The work of a
Michigan State University (MSU) scientist is the basis for a business plan to use algae to simultaneously treat wastewater and produce the raw materials for biofuels.
The group that developed the plan, called Team Algal Scientific Corp., holds a Clean Energy Prize and $65,000.
Detroit-based
DTE Energy and the
University of Michigan (UM) give the award to encourage entrepreneurship and the development of clean energy technology. The competition was open to students at all colleges and universities and drew 23 entries.
The winning team is comprised of Geoff Horst, an ecology doctoral student at MSU, who developed the technology, and three UM students or alumni. The team will now move on to the next phase of establishing a business.
“We’re trying to address two major global concerns: clean water and clean energy and we can do that with one process," says Horst.
Algae would take up nutrients at wastewater treatment plants in a more economical and environmentally friendly way than the currently used method. This method uses no chemicals. Then, the nutrient-packed algae would be harvested and sent to a plant to be converted directly to biofuels.
While Team Algal is dealing with science and a business plan, DTE Energy and UM are dealing with a broader issue.
“We see this prize as one of many steps toward recapturing Michigan’s past spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship,” says Gerard Anderson, DTE Energy president.
Source: University of Michigan
Gretchen Cochran, Innovation & Jobs editor, may be reached
here.
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