MG
Bharathiar University
Chlorella vulgaris in raceway ponds, a named strain ready to scale.
In-development
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Receive a weekly email digest of the latest biofuel technologies added by the network.Browse 571 solutions in biofuel development on the Halo network
Updated Nov 2, 2026
Biofuel development covers making a fuel out of biology, and the cost of every step in between. On Halo, the solutions cover cultivating algae at scale, bioreactors and engineered algae, wet residues into fuel, and getting the lipid out. Sign up to search the full network and post your specific need.
Cultivating algae at scale
MG
DH
Global Algae Innovations · Startup
Algae cultivation aimed at chemicals, polymers, fuels, feed and food together.
In-development
Bioreactors and engineered algae
Wayne Curtis
CALYX Bioprocess Technologies, LLC · Startup
A photobioreactor for saltwater-adapted algae that make hydrocarbons directly.
In-development
Wayne Curtis
CALYX Bioprocess Technologies, LLC · Startup
Controlled environment photosynthesis on minimal water, CO2 and nutrient.
LicensingIn-development
Wet residues into fuel
KH
University of British Columbia
Hydrothermal liquefaction of wet citrus peel, with no drying step.
Sponsored researchIn-development
Francesco D'Acierno
Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven)
Hydrothermal carbonization into energy-dense hydrochar pellets.
Sponsored researchIn-development
Getting the lipid out
ST
C16 Biosciences · Startup
Solvent extraction and enzymatic lysis for fermentation-derived lipids at scale.
Sponsored researchIn-development
VS
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Mechanical and enzymatic disruption recovering lipid from wet biomass, no solvent.
Sponsored researchIn-development
Bio-oil into a fuel molecule
Johan Thevelein
Yeast displaying a decarboxylase on its surface, making alpha olefins directly.
In-development
OL
University of Texas, San Antonio
A triple catalytic system converting fatty esters under visible light.
In-development
Solid and waste-derived fuels
TH
Convergen Energy WI LLC · Supplier
Torrefied pellets made from paper mill waste that cannot be recycled.
In-development
Ehssan Koupaie
Hydrothermal liquefaction of recycling screen rejects into bio-oil and biochar.
In-development
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Who is working on biofuel development
Organizations in biofuel development
Universities, startups, and suppliers with solutions in biofuel development.
Biofuel companies
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Innovators in biofuel development
Researchers and inventors advancing biofuel technologies.
Biofuel expertsAbout biofuel development
Algae is the largest cluster on Halo, split between open pond cultivation and engineered bioreactors, and almost every entry pairs it with a free input: wastewater, flue gas, palm oil mill effluent, non-arable land. A second cluster converts wet residues thermochemically, and a third works only on getting the lipid out. On Halo it spans 7 groups, including cultivating algae at scale, bioreactors and engineered algae, and wet residues into fuel.
Stage of development. Work on biofuel development on Halo is split between university programs and companies. 86% are past proof of concept (TRL 4 or higher). Montana State University has the most, followed by University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Co-development and sponsored research are the usual partnering routes, and about 34% of the solutions that state terms offer pilot engagements.
Three trends in biofuel technologies on Halo
Algae paired with a free input. Thirteen algae entries and almost all of them name a waste stream as the feedstock or the site: wastewater in two, palm oil mill effluent, flue gas or biogas CO2, direct air capture, non-arable land, saltwater. The biology has been demonstrated for years; the economics only work when an input costs nothing.
Drying is the step everyone avoids. Five entries convert wet residue thermochemically and each states that no drying is required: hydrothermal liquefaction of citrus peel, hydrothermal carbonization into hydrochar, catalytic processing straight to fuel gas, a biphasic acid reactor with no biology, and co-digestion buffered by manure. Four lipid recovery entries make the same claim from the other direction.
The extraction step is its own business. Four entries do nothing but recover a lipid from wet biomass: solvent extraction with enzymatic lysis at commercial scale, non-solvent mechanical and enzymatic disruption, ethyl acetate with membrane recycling to displace hexane, and a glycerol cleanup. Growing the organism is solved often enough that separating the product became the bottleneck.
520organizations
571solutions listed
54%from university labs
86%past proof of concept
Frequently asked questions
What are biofuel technologies?
Biofuel development covers making a fuel out of biology, and the cost of every step between. It spans algae cultivated in ponds and in engineered bioreactors, wet agricultural side streams converted thermochemically into biocrude or fuel gas, the lipid recovery step that decides whether any of it is economic, catalytic routes from a bio-oil to a fuel molecule, fermentation, and solid fuels made from waste.
What are examples of biofuel technologies?
Five examples of biofuel technologies on Halo include:
- Chlorella vulgaris in raceway ponds, a named strain ready to scale. (Bharathiar University)
- A photobioreactor for saltwater-adapted algae that make hydrocarbons directly. (CALYX Bioprocess Technologies, LLC)
- Catalytic hydrothermal processing straight to hydrogen and methane-rich gas. (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
- Solvent extraction and enzymatic lysis for fermentation-derived lipids at scale. (C16 Biosciences)
- Yeast displaying a decarboxylase on its surface, making alpha olefins directly. (Ex Seed)
What are the latest biofuel innovations?
Over the past 90 days, researchers and innovators on Halo have added these biofuel technologies:
Which companies and suppliers are developing biofuel technologies?
There are 520 organizations with biofuel technologies on Halo, 117 of them universities and research institutions. Among them are Bharathiar University, Global Algae Innovations, and CALYX Bioprocess Technologies, LLC. Most offer co-development or sponsored research. Sign up to see every organization working in the area and to send them your specific need.
How do I find biofuel research partners?
Browsing biofuel technologies on Halo is free. Sign up to search the full network and save the ones you want. Post your specific need to get exact matches. Organizations reply directly on the platform.
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