San Diego aims to establish hub for algae-based biofuels research

In California, a group of San Diego-based researchers have commenced lobbying to establish a multimillion dollar hub for algae-based biofuels research, the San Diego Center for Algae-based Biofuels (SD-CAB). The center concept is backed by Cleantech San Diego, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, The Scripps Research Institute, and UC San Diego.

The researchers pointed out that the two San Diego companies, General Atomics and SAIC, were named as the lead contractors last month for algae fuel research efforts funded by the Defense Advances Research Projects Administration (DARPA). SAIC’s project received a $14.9 million contract, while General Atomics project received $19..9 million.

A total of 17 companies bid on the projects. San Diego is also home to Sapphire Energy, Synthetic Genomics,. Genomatics, HR Biopetroleum, Earthrise Farms, and Carbon Capture. The goal of SD-CAB is to establish a research center on the UC San Diego campus that would spearhead efforts to make algal-fuels commercially viable.

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