PITTSBURGH, April 24, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Algae fueling commercial airplanes? The idea may seem odd at first, but given how much the commercial transportation world is changing, the more you think about it, the more it…grows on you.
In the third episode of season two, ExxonMobil and Synthetic Genomics teach Tomorrow's World Today viewers about bioengineering algae to get the desired traits to make biofuel, a cleaner and more sustainable form of diesel transportation fuel. Both companies are working to advance the technical abilities to efficiently scale the production of an algae biofuel that does not compete with fresh water or food crops. Fuel refined from algae oils could transform how we power everything from automobiles to jet planes.
"Our research on algae biofuels is an important part of our broader research into lower-emission technologies," said Dr. Kelsey McNeely, biofuels program leader at ExxonMobil. "Since 2009, ExxonMobil and Synthetic Genomics have partnered in researching and developing oil from algae to be used as a renewable, lower-emission alternative. Our goal is to produce 10,000 barrels of algae biofuel per day by 2025."
Ongoing work in the lab and the field is bringing ExxonMobil and Synthetic Genomics researchers closer to bringing algae-biofuels production to scale in a meaningful way. With continued breakthroughs on the horizon, the hope is that someday passengers might fly on algae-fueled planes, and packages will be delivered via algae-fueled trucks.
"We are excited about the progress we are making in the labs, greenhouse, and outdoor algal facility toward engineering highly efficient algae strains that convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into renewable, high-energy-density biofuel," said Dr. Rob Brown, vice president of phototrophic systems at Synthetic Genomics.
Tomorrow's World Today, which was nominated for a 2019 Daytime Emmy, returns to Science Channel for season two beginning Saturday, May 4. Viewers can tune in on Saturday and Sunday mornings for five weeks to watch back-to-back new episodes.
About Tomorrow's World Today
This cutting-edge television show travels the world in search of innovative pioneers who are creating new ways to utilize our natural and technological resources for a more sustainable lifestyle. Tomorrow's World Today has a home base in Pittsburgh, PA, one of the nation's most progressive tech landscapes, home to Duolingo, the most downloaded educational app in the world and UBERS's flagship location for autonomous transportation.
About ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil, the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world's growing energy needs. ExxonMobil holds an industry-leading inventory of resources, is one of the largest refiners and marketers of petroleum products, and its chemical company is one of the largest in the world. For more information, visit http://www.exxonmobil.com or follow us on Twitter.
About Synthetic Genomics, Inc.
Synthetic Genomics is programming the operating system of life to create sustainable solutions for humankind's most pressing issues, from the well-being of our population to the health of our planet. With an unmatched understanding of how DNA drives the function of cells – the basic biological units of all living organisms – Synthetic Genomics modifies and writes genomes to enable transformative products in the areas of vaccines, medicines, and biotechnology research. In addition to designing novel organisms that overcome fundamental hurdles of scientific research and medicine, Synthetic Genomics pursues partnerships with organizations seeking to dramatically improve upon existing products in health care, energy, and other sectors. Continuing its legacy of scientific first in genomics and synthetic biology, Synthetic Genomics is harnessing the power of nature to improve the quality of life. More information is available at http://www.syntheticgenomics.com.
SOURCE Tomorrow’s World Today
Share this article