Currently most research into efficient algal-oil production is being done in the private sector, but if predictions from small scale production experiments bear out then using algae to produce
biodiesel,
bioethanol and
biobutanol may be the only viable method by which to produce enough automotive fuel to displace current world gasoline usage.
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Microalgae have much faster growth-rates than terrestrial crops. The oil yield per unit area of algae is estimated to be 5,000 to 20,000 gallons per acre, per year (4.6 to 18.4 l/m2 per year); this is 7 to 30 times greater than the next best crop,
Chinese tallow (699 gallons).
[22]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algaculture#Biofuels_production