Algae represent a potentially promising resource for energy and food production due to their high photosynthetic efficiency. An acre of land growing algae can produce 50 tons of biomass per acre compared to 1 to 10 tons for terrestrial crops. The high yield enables the possible production of much more fuel and co-product feed than is possible with conventional crops. Algae production also presents some significant challenges.  Algae grow in water and harvesting requires the separation of over 1000 times the weight of algae in the water.  Also, algae, like all plants has nutrient requirements including N, P, K as well as micro-nutrients. The successful recovery of products from algae will require a strategy to recover or recycle nutrients. When the production of algae biomass is successful, it provides a potential feedstock for many biofuels including biogas, biodiesel, and synthetic hydrocarbons.

Large renewable energy and biochemical consulting firms like Lee Enterprises Consulting will certainly have experts in algae. They also offer a wide range of services in the general areas of biofuels, biochemicals, biotechnologies, biomaterials, synthetic biology commercialization, feedstocks, and hemp/cannabis, and will have specialized business and financial services like due diligence, feedstock availability, grants, and loans and bio market research.  A big consulting group like this should also offer technical and engineering-related services like techno-economic analysis, environmental evaluations, feasibility studies, risk analysis, and expert witness engagements, and have solid strategic partnerships in place to assist clients with insurance, legal, accounting, plant fabrication, feedstock procurement.   With over 150 experts worldwide, Lee Enterprises Consulting has experts in many specific clean and renewable areas. Look at our experts and the services we provide.  Most of our experts are also available to advise and serve as expert witnesses in bioeconomy litigation matters.  For the larger projects, we specialize in putting together full-service, interdisciplinary teams with one point of contact.  See a video about LEC here.  Call us at 1+ (501) 833-8511 or email us for more information.