While significant hurdles remain -- algae-produced fats aren't as readily transformed into energy as, say, the Beverly Hillbillies' Texas tea -- many have joined the pursuit of commercialization and a recent study says plants could come on line in the next four to six years producing product competitive with conventional fuels.
Imagine driving down to the corner quick-rip grocer and filling it up with a little homegrown green.
A decade from now that might be possible.
Boulder, Colo.-based Pike Research reports that by 2020, "production of biofuels derived from crude algae oil will reach 61 million gallons per year." Writers of the Pike Research report, industry analyst Mackinnon Lawrence and Pike President Clint Wheelock acknowledged the amount was "barely a drop in the bucket for biofuels" but said the potential production would represent a market value of $1.3 billion.
