Launched in January 2022, the AlgaePrize is a new competition from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) that encourages students to pursue innovative ideas for the development, design, and invention of technologies within the commercial algae value chain. Fast-growing and able to store energy from sunlight, algae can be transformed into a variety of products, such as fuel, food, fertilizer, industrial compounds, and animal feed.

The 2022–2023 AlgaePrize competition is open to teams of two or more students currently enrolled in a U.S.-based high school, community or technical college, college, university, or graduate program. To participate, teams must register by March 2, 2022, by 12 p.m. ET.

Student teams should focus their project on one of the following areas of interest:

1. Production 

• Cultivar enhancement

• Aquaculture engineering

• Husbandry and productivity

2. Downstream Processing

• Harvesting, dewatering, and processing

• Development of biorefinery applications

3. Identification of Novel Products or Tools 

• New product development

• Remote sensing and modeling

• Ecological/environmental services

During the year-and-a-half-long challenge, student teams will work on creative solutions for real-world issues in the algae value chain. The competition culminates in an event where teams present their research to a panel of expert judges. Winning teams from the AlgaePrize competition’s areas of interest receive a trophy, prize money, and national recognition. You can find more information for registration, the competition, and prizes here.