As usual, the breakthrough will be access to cheap feed stocks, not process. Even the process such as cellulose to sugar, is not ready.
The algae to fuel process failed when they determined that the algae feedstock needs fertilizer (natural gas) and phosphate which is mined. These inputs exceeded value of output.
Keep frackin while you still can.
And again, it’s another ‘food to fuel’ conversion scheme. This process needs so much help you are better off sticking with regular diesel.
Oh, the other thing you need a bunch of is water to make this work. Water stress, of course, isn’t already a bigger problem than access to fuel already is.
I’ll be impressed when they can make either electrical or chemical energy without water, in scale.
That's what was missing from this article. What's the energy of the entire process - from planting and harvesting, delivery, conversion, waste disposal, and end product delivery?