Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and EERE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office have developed a unique, high-resolution spatio-temporal Biomass Assessment Tool (BAT) that realistically addresses the critical questions of how much energy can be produced from microalgae, where production can occur, and how much land, water, and nutrient resources will be required. This research is being used to support EERE and industry that have come to PNNL to use the tool. The tool has been formally recognized by the American Geophysical Union as an Editor’s Choice Award given to the top 1% of peer reviewed publications. It was cited in major sections of the recent National Research Council Report on sustainable algal biofuel production. It was also cited by President Obama during an energy policy speech on February 23, 2012.

PNNL—as part of the EERE-funded National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts consortium—has also recently developed and validated a minimal-input microalgae biomass growth model that is capable of predicting a strain’s performance using experimentally determined, species-specific temperature and light response functions. The biomass growth model will significantly improve the accuracy of various techno-economic assessment models and is being integrated into the PNNL BAT to understand resource demands and predict potential biomass productivity of various algae strains in any geographic location in the world and at any season of the year for that location. Model prediction and subsequent validation in climate-simulation pond cultures will enable the rapid and efficient identification of high-productivity strains, respective pond locations of maximum annual productivity, and associated resource constraints thereby greatly accelerating achievement of DOE’s production targets.

Positive Impact

Promising technology that can accelerate the pace at which EERE reaches DOE’s biofuel production targets.

Locations

Washington

Partners

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

EERE Investment

$600,000

Clean Energy Sector

Sustainable transportation

The Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) works with a broad spectrum of industrial, academic, agricultural, and nonprofit partners across the United States to develop and deploy commercially viable, high-performance biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower from renewable biomass resources in America to reduce our dependence on imported oil. 

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) success stories highlight the positive impact of its work with businesses, industry partners, universities, research labs, and other entities.