Biomass is an organic renewable energy source that includes materials such as agriculture and forest residues, energy crops, and algae. Scientists and engineers at the Energy Department and National Laboratories are finding new, more efficient ways to convert biomass into biofuels that can take the place of conventional fuels like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
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One of the National Labs is building a high-tech library of biomass samples and information for bioenergy researchers.
The science and industry of biofuels is changing rapidly. See what’s new with the fuels of the future.
Advances in synthetic biology—which involves engineering biological systems for new uses—can offer innovative solutions to improve advanced biofuel production. This, in turn, can speed up the development and commercialization of biofuels, making them attractive and affordable to industrial manufacturers.
Energy Department-funded scientists at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) California Center for Algae Biotechnology have successfully demonstrated a uniquely Californian solution to replacing fossil fuels—surfboards made from algae.
Tiny algae can play a big role in tackling America's energy challenges. Recent scientific breakthroughs and projects, funded by the Energy Department’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, have resulted in a number of advancements that are helping make algal biofuel more cost competitive and widely available.
