Algae Biofuels Production Technologies Worldwide

By SBI Energy Analyst Robert Eckard

Biofuels come in many shapes and sizes –from corn ethanol to soy biodiesel to food waste biomethane. But algae biofuels in particular have been getting a lot of press lately. And for good reason – unlike many biomass feedstocks that typically are only refined into a single fuel type (corn into ethanol, soy into biodiesel), algae feedstocks hold the potential for use in production of a wide array of end fuels. These include, of course, oil-based biodiesel, but also renewable diesel, ethanol, biomethane, renewable gasoline, renewable jet fuel, and several others.

Unfortunately, over the last few years, algae biofuels have become plagued by superfluous information and hype. The industry is currently seeing a glut of small startups and potential startups that do not yet have proven technologies, but do have a strong desire to corner the market – sometimes so much so that claims have become exaggerated and engorged beyond reasonability. For an investor, venture capitalist, or legitimate startup firm, the hype and enthusiasm can be disorienting: without careful analysis, long-shot startups can be hard to differentiate from experienced firms, and the near term market potential for algae biofuels production technologies can be seemingly impossible to predict with any accuracy.

In order to get around the hype and assess the real near term market potential, the data provided in SBI’s report on algae biofuels production technologies is based on a systematic, company-by-company review of proven products, projects that are underway or reasonably expected to be underway in the near term, funding/capital acquisitions, and projected market caps relating to government incentives and regulations, as well as competition with conventional fuels and other biofuels.  Our review indicates that the market for algae biofuels production technologies is entering an exciting time – demonstration projects will soon approach commercial scales and become economically viable.  Even now, there are early signs of hype falling out of the industry, as a handful of industry leaders and specialists take the forefront in algae biofuels production.

Algae Biofuels Production Technologies Worldwide          

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