U.T. Making a Big Bet on the Future of Algae

U.T. Making a Big Bet on the Future of Algae
By Lara Lapin
Algae, a somewhat elusive, but valuable resource, has final been harnessed at the J.J Pickle Research Campus at the University of Texas. Algae has been a focus for alternative fuel for years, hoping to help reduce the United States' dependency on crude oil. Not only can it help reduce green house gases, but it also can be incorporated into pharmaceuticals. The mass production of algae is a difficult task when one has to prevent the interference of disease and predators. Michael E. Webber, an assistant at U.T's department of mechanical engineering explains why we have finally been able to mass produce algae, "You need three things to grow algae: carbon dioxide, dirty water and sunshine, Texas has abundant supplies of all three.” However, it is not this simple he states. Unlike many mass produced organisms, algae grows horizontally in the wild. Within a pond, there is limited exposure to sunlight unless you are close to the surface. This causes the algae to spread across wide spaces in order to increase its surface area being exposed to the light. New technology at the J.J Pickle Research Campus allows algae to be grown vertically, in large tubes known as Vertical Growth Modules. Currently, U.T has 15,000 gallons of algae growing in this vertical fashion making algae growing space and cost efficient. Companies like OpenAlgae visit the site to extract oils from the algae in order to test new environmentally safe technologies. But why have we focused our time and energy on the production of algae? Isn't there another plant? The UTEX Culture Collection of Algae works with AlgEternal in order to choose which cultures are to be grown in what conditions. Head scientist Jerry J. Brand states, “They have the potential to play a role in reducing greenhouse gases and decreasing our dependence on crude oil,” he said. “Algae can grow much faster than plants. They don’t require as much water, and they can grow in places that plants can’t, like deserts.” This, now easily grown, organism may prove to be a solution all over the country, even in the harshest climates.

This new approach on the growing of algae may have profound effects on the environmental industries we have today. Surely the automotive industry will increase their research with algae in order to develop vehicles that will incorporate algae fuel into their engines. Algae may turn into the new ethanol. This method of vertical growing will become wide spread across the country due to its versatility and ability to be used in enclosed spaces. Algae could be grown on roof tops where they are exposed to sunlight.


Overall, I believe that the article did an excellent job in explaining why this use of vertical growth was such a big deal. The author Lara Lapin uses different quotes that help articulate the adaptability of this technology along with building up the studies credibility. Perhaps the most interesting component of the article was the last sentence which introduced a new idea. It said that as more and more algae is produced, one can suffer from larger unexpected problems. The article could have been improved by going into more detail on how exactly the vertical columns are engineered.