The DOE funds will support research by Palmer Labs of its patent-pending algae technology addressing both energy and nutritional applications.
Bill Brown, chairman of Palmer Labs, said: ”Our unique approach to algae will help provide a solution to the problem of CO2 emissions and, at the same time, provide algae for both food and energy production. We formed Palmer Labs to help address many of the world’s problems.
” As we have seen with the recent UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, policy makers are struggling to devise the solutions to the environmental challenges that engulf us. We believe that technology both delivers and is a powerful, democratizing force.”
Bill Brown, chairman of Palmer Labs and Duke Law School faculty member, said that researchers at Palmer Labs are developing new methods for harnessing algae to ‘close the carbon cycle’. Palmer Labs engineers are also designing and testing systems to burn algae to make renewable electricity.
Dr Miles Palmer, president of Palmer Labs, said: ”This power system allows us to use algae to turn sunlight — the ultimate renewable resource — into electricity. Our system is designed to use biomass, natural gas or coal while capturing virtually all the CO2 emissions at a cost lower than present commercial systems.
”Our goal is highly focused. We take the biggest problems — currently in energy and food resources — and find cheaper and better solutions through innovative combinations of proven technologies. The DOE stimulus funds provide timely support of this pressing goal to us and our consortium partners.”
