On the opening night of the 3rd Annual Algae Biomass Summit, I attended a roof-top soiree hosted by the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology.  In addition to hob-knobbing with the Shaquille O’Neal’s of algae, I also had the opportunity to compliment the founders of SD-CAB on the high quality of their website.  Getting up to speed in clean tech is like learning a new language.  Lesson one for algae begins at SD-CAB’s website.   This frequently-updated website serves a broad audience from the lay person who seeks introductory information to the industry insider who seeks direction.  I found the Q&A to be particularly useful.  You will want to become a SD-CAB Associate Member.  Click here to join for $100.

Now that you have committed yourself to becoming proficient in algae-speak, you will want to tap into other resources.  This month, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) published The Promise of Algae Biofuels.  It is everything you need to know in 72 pages. 

Another timely resource is provided by Stoel Rives LLP Attorneys at Law.  In nine chapters, the Law of Algae covers IP, licensing, financing, the specifics of Renewable Fuel Standard and much more.  It’s the green pathway to gold. 

To prepare for the vocabulary section of your algae SATs you can refer to the following glossaries:  U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and BiobasedNews.com.  

Please chime in with your comments about any useful sources of algae wisdom.

For the last few months the quest for biofuel derived from algae has been a hot headline.  San Diego’s prominence as the foremost algae R&D center will draw even more national attention when the 3^rd Annual Algae Biomass Summit comes to town October 7^th – 9^th.  The Algal Biomass Organization is a trade organization formed to facilitate commercialization and market development of microalgae biomass specifically for biofuels production and greenhouse gas abatement.  Attendance of about 1,000 is anticipated for the three day get-together which will include local algae heavy weights Sapphire Energy, Synthetic Genomics, General Atomics, Biolight, Kent Bioenergy and the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology among others. (more…)