| $4m grant for biofuel microalgae research in Texas |
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| Written by Giles Clark, London | ||
| Tuesday, 05 February 2008 | ||
Texas AgriLife Research, part of the Texas A&M University System, and General Atomics, a San Diego-based technology company, have received a $4 million grant from the Texas's Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) for biofuel microalgae research. The ETF grant authorized by Gov. Rick Perry will be supported by more than $4 million of parallel US Department of Defense sponsored research aimed at developing microalgae-derived biodiesel fuels to support US domestic and military needs.
"Texas is committed to creating a diverse energy portfolio that provides stability and reduces dependence on foreign energy," said Gov. Perry. "Developing alternative energy sources through Texas-based research is of tremendous value to a fast-growing state like Texas and to our nation as a whole." The first phase will demonstrate algae production systems up to approximately a quarter of an acre. The second phase will include a pre-commercial scale system and the final phase would be a commercial-size operation of 50 to 100 acres. Production systems up to 2,000 acres could be implemented in the Permian Basin of Texas and the Southwest. Economists within the A&M System predict for each 2,000-acre unit, the local economic impact would equal approximately $190 million annually. "This project supported by the Emerging Technology Fund could very well pave the way for new, innovative biofuel production systems here in Texas and provide additional economic impact in the Permian Basin and the Southwest," said Dr. Mark Hussey, director of Texas AgriLife Research and interim vice chancellor and dean of agriculture and life sciences at Texas A&M University. "This partnership certainly will help accelerate work in meeting the ever-growing demand for biofuels by consumers and the military." |
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