PetroSun launched the world’s first commercial algae-to-biofuel facility in Rio Hondo (Texas, USA) earlier this month.

The facility consists of up to 1100 acres (445,15 hectares) of saltwater ponds were the company will be growing the algae. 20 of those acres will be used to produce biofuels from algae. Another 20 acres will be used to produce an experimental jet fuel.

The whole facility is expected to produce around 4.4 million gallons of algal oil and around 110 million pounds of biomass per year.

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Shell, the major oil company, has decided to adopt algae for its diesel production. The company has already begun the construction of a pilot plant in Hawaii.

Growing algae as biofuel will not be taking valuable land areas that are needed to grow food on. Thanks to algaes impressive photosynthesis it will produce 15 times as much oil for a given area compared to other biofuel crops. Algae can also be fed CO2 directly from smokestacks.

So, has Shell finally seen the green light? Far from it actually.

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