In the fight against global climate change, the need to develop clean, green, and renewable sources of energy has become an international call to action. Sandia researchers are working to minimize climate change and reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil by focusing on transportation biofuels derived from both cellulosic and algal biomass. Our biofuels scientists are conducting fundamental investigations and then using their findings to move the world closer to the day when fossil fuels will be largely replaced by biofuels.
The biofuel life cycle — from feedstock to end user. (Source: DOE)
However, transitioning biofuel production from current niche levels to a level with a significant market share in the transportation fuel sector requires numerous advances in both science and technology. Sandia researchers at both the California and New Mexico laboratories are poised to play a critical role in the advancement of biofuels for the nation. Sandians are also key partners at the Joint BioEnergy Institute, a Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Center that is accelerating the advancement of next-generation biofuels.
Sandia’s research approach examines the sustainability and environmental impact of biofuels production and use. We are using our bioscience capabilities in genomics and proteomics, as well as our world-class biotechnology capabilities in biomolecular imaging, computational biology, microfluidics, and bionanotechnology, to investigate the following crucial issues in biofuels R&D:
Learn more about our current biofuels research projects and about our efforts to create biofuels from the following sources: