Researchers from government and big oil companies may have been over optimistic in predicting a commercialization date for algae-based biofuels, Business Green reported. Despite strong research and development efforts, second-generation biofuels are unlikely to be available commercially for at least another decade, according to Peter Voser, the head of Royal Dutch Shell. Voser said that although Shell has more ongoing second-generation biofuel projects going that its rivals and was an estimated 18 months ahead in terms of algae-based biofuel, it would be a number of years before a commercially proven plant would be operational.

(Business Green, November 30, 2009)

(http://www.businessgreen.com/…)

DTN: Even Shell itself now admits the company was over-optimistic in its prediction of commercially viable algae biofuel production. Shell is scaling back other production start-up dates it had predicted, such as cellulosic ethanol production from straw using enzymes by its Canadian partner Iogen, which now is estimated to not be in commercial production until 2020. (Cheryl Anderson)