Reviewer Comments - EERE

2011 Algae Platform Review – Reviewer Comments
Reviewer Comments are direct transcripts of commentary and material provided by the Platform’s
Review Panel. They have not been edited or altered by the Biomass Program.
Presenter Response
Project: 7.2.1.7 University of Nebraska Lincoln
Title: Research for Developing Renewable Biofuels from Algae
Presenter: George Oyler
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 07, 2011
Criteria Avg Score Std Deviation Count
Approach 3.29 1.28 7
Progress 3.86 1.46 7
Relevance 3.43 1.59 7
Critical Success Factors 3.43 1.59 7
1. Project Approach
The project performers have implemented technically sound research, development, and deployment
approaches and demonstrated necessary results to meet their targets
The project performers have identified a project management plan that includes well-defined milestones
and adequate methods for addressing potential risks.
Reviewer Comments
Reviewer: 1 Criteria Score: 4
Some of the basic studies were desirable approaches. Some of the extensions, such as the Photobioreactor
system or the nanobody approaches are far less justifiable.
Reviewer: 2 Criteria Score: 3
Focus is on developing photobioreactor with new/improved processes for concentration of algae/lipid
product. The project is developing a lipidome and transcriptome for relevant conditions (N deprivation,
acetate free media etc.). Evaluation of algal viruses is being made for a processing step. Bioreactors of
this type may not be efficient for scale-up and costing of processes and procedures needs more analysis.
Reviewer: 3 Criteria Score: 6
[1] Project aims to increase fundamental knowledge of lipid biosynthetic pathways, lipid transport, and
storage and secretion mechanisms in two important eukaryotic algal genera, Chlamydomonas and
Chlorella; [2] Develop new and improved technologies for manipulating genomes and gene expression in
eukaryotic green algae; and [3] Establish a state-of-the-art Photobioreactor Research Facility to develop
low cost, efficient algal cells harvesting strategies and to improve current technologies by developing
novel, next generation photobioreactors for algal biofuel and specialty chemicals production.
Reviewer: 4 Criteria Score: 2
See Overall Impressions text.
Reviewer: 5 Criteria Score: 3
Goals are focused on lipid production, photobioreactor development, and harvesting. Novel aspects of the
project include use of viral enzymes for algal lysis and nanobodies for algal harvesting. The
photobioreactor research appears to ignore the results from decades of work by other groups.
Unfortunately, the nanobody approach appears to be wildly unrealistic for real world conditions.
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