The ExxonMobil Algae Biofuels Research and Development Program is a new long term investment focused on biofuel production from photosynthetic algae. If successful, these next generation biofuels could augment the world’s transportation fuel supply and assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the decades to come.

If research and development milestones are successfully met, ExxonMobil’s expected spend for this program, which includes a strategic alliance between ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company (EMRE) and Synthetic Genomics, Inc. (SGI), is more than $600 million.


ADVANTAGES OF ALGAE

The potential benefits of biofuel from photosynthetic algae could be significant:
- Algae can be grown using land and water unsuitable for crop plant or food production, unlike some other first and second generation biofuel feedstocks.
- Select species of algae produce bio-oils through the natural process of photosynthesis, requiring sunlight, water and carbon dioxide, supplemented with nutrients.
- Growing algae consume carbon dioxide, providing greenhouse gas mitigation benefits
- Bio-oil produced by photosynthetic algae and the resultant biofuel will have molecular structures that are similar to the petroleum and refined products we use today. This helps ensure the fuels are compatible with existing transportation technology and infrastructure.
- If successful, bio-oils from photosynthetic algae could be used to manufacture a full range of fuels including gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel, which meet the same specifications as today’s products.
- Algae yield greater volumes of biofuel per acre of production than crop plant-based biofuel sources. Algae could yield more than 2000 gallons of fuel per acre of production per year. Approximate yields for other fuel sources are far lower:
- Palm - 650 gallons per acre per year
- Sugar cane - 450 gallons per acre per year
- Corn - 250 gallons per acre per year
- Soy - 50 gallons per acre per year
- Algae used to produce biofuel are highly productive. As a result, large quantities of algae can be grown quickly, and the process of testing different strains of algae for their fuel-making potential can proceed faster than with other crops with longer life cycles.

Image Caption: Bio-oil will be further processed in existing refineries, just as crude oil is refined today, to produce a range of products including gasoline, diesel, jet and marine fuel.