First Instance of "Large-Scale" Algae Farm

Solix Biofuels, a long time member of my algae watchlist, inoculated their newly-completed algae ponds with microalgae on July 16. Production of algae oil should be in full-swing by the end of summer. They predict they will produce 3,000 gallons of oil per acre by the end of this year. This is the first time I know of that the phrase "large scale" has been applied to an algae farm demonstration.

Another company, the non-profit CEHMM in New Mexico, plans to start selling algae oil off its own open-air pond on September 1.

These developments, along with recent advances by Origin Oil and Exxon's announcement of their $600 million investment in algae farming in partnership with geneticist Craig Venter of Synthetic Genomics means things are moving along for this source of second-generation biofuel. Stay tuned!