•Microalgae were first mass cultured on rooftop at MIT during the
early 1950s, first mention of algae biofuels in report of that project.
•Methane from algae studied at U.C. Berkeley during the 1950s,
Initial conceptual process and systems analysis published 1960
•The energy shocks of the 1970s led renewed study of microalgae
biofuels, H2 and methane in combination with wastewater treatment
•From 1980 to 1995, the U.S. DOE-NREL ASP for microalgae oil production. Initial issue: open ponds vs. closed photobioreactors. The ASP culminated in open pond pilot plant at Roswell, New Mexico
•Algae oil production is still a long-term R&D goal. Like the ASP a future program should be an open collaboration by researchers from academia, national laboratories and industry, not inhibited by concerns about IP or commercial interests.