The AlgaePrize, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office and supported by The Algae Foundation and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), challenges students to become the next generation of bioeconomy professionals by expanding novel solutions to production, processing, and new product development on the way to gigaton-scale algae commercialization for fuel, food, products, and carbon dioxide utilization/sequestration.
Information about the Competition
The AlgaePrize competition is open to teams of two or more students currently enrolled in a U.S.-based high school, community college, college, university, or graduate program. The competition spans two academic years. Students will learn about the algae industry and will go on to support the nation’s biofuel research, algal commercial enhancement, and promote industry-driven education, training, and workforce development. The AlgaePrize will assist in establishing the competitors as serious candidates for the next generation of bioeconomy positions and entrepreneurial opportunities.
The three areas of interest for the AlgaePrize include both microalgae and macroalgae. Student teams should focus their project on one of the following areas of interest:
- Production
- Downstream Processing
- Novel Products or Analytical Tools
Competitors will prepare creative solutions for real-world issues in the algae value chain. Students will compete to earn prize money and national recognition. The registration date for the current iteration of the competition, AlgaePrize 2025–2027 has been postponed to a date yet to be determined. We are awaiting updates from the U.S. Department of Energy regarding the amended timeline and will share information as soon as it becomes available. Visit and follow our official competition site for more information. Find more information below about our most recent competition, which concluded in July 2025.
AlgaePrize 2023–2025 Competition
The AlgaePrize 2023–2025 Competition launched in August 2023 with 50 teams and hundreds of students from across the country submitting innovative proposals in hopes of earning the title of Grand Champion, winning up to $35,000 in prize funds, and gaining national recognition. Competitors represented high schools, colleges, and universities nationwide, gaining hands-on STEWM experience.
From the initial 50 teams, 15 finalists were selected and awarded $10,000 each to conduct research over two academic years. Their efforts culminated in the AlgaePrize 2025 Competition Weekend, held July 18–20, 2025, at NREL’s campus in Golden, Colorado. There, teams presented their research to an expert panel of judges, competed for additional prizes, and gained invaluable networking and professional development opportunities.
In total, 13 finalist teams from 11 states across the country and Puerto Rico showcased their projects to the judges. View the photos from the weekend and find more information about each of our winning teams below.
Grand Champion Team
Parachlorella Plastic Pals
University of California, San Diego
- Project title: From Protist to Plastic: Microalgal Feedstock for Synthesis of 100% Algae-based Polyurethanes
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Video: Watch on YouTube
- Prize: $35,000
Champion Teams
AlgaeNano+
University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Project title: Macroalgae-Derived Carbon Nanomaterials: The Next Frontier in Energy Materials and Soil Remediation
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Video: Watch on YouTube
- Prize: $20,000
Aloha Limu
University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii
- Project title: Up-cycled Vertical Bag Culture of Halymenia
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Video: Watch on YouTube
- Prize: $20,000
BlazerBloom
Hood College, Frederick, Maryland
- Project title: Harvesting Microalgae Using Magnetotactic Bacteria
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Video: Watch on YouTube
- Prize: $20,000
JCCC Chlorella Cavaliers
Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas
- Project title: Genetically Engineered Algae to Degrade Plastic and Improve Ecosystems
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Video: Watch on YouTube
- Prize: $20,000
Finalist Teams
AlgaeUnlocked
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois
- Project title: Unlocking Algae’s Potential Using Oxidative Hydrothermal Dissolution
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Video: Watch on Vimeo
- Prize: $10,000
Algators
Livingston High School, Livingston, New Jersey
- Project title: Microalgae as Promising Biocatalysts To Enhance Food Production
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Prize: $10,000
Blue Genes
Solano Community College, Fairfield, California
- Project title: Phycocyanin: An Algae Pigment to Dye For
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Video: Watch on YouTube
- Prize: $10,000
Clean Green Feed
University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
- Project title: Methionine Supplementation in Poultry Feed
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Video: Watch on YouTube
- Prize: $10,000
Green Skies
The Blake School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Project title: AI-Driven Site Selection for Algae Farming
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Video: Watch on YouTube
- Prize: $10,000
Green Thumbs
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado
- Project title: A Volt of Clarity
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Video: Watch on YouTube
- Prize: $10,000
Just AD Algae
Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Project title: Microalgal Impact on Biogas Yield in Anaerobic Digestion of Used Cooking Oil
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Video: Watch on YouTube
- Prize: $10,000
KelBerry
University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
- Project title: Improving Strawberry Shelf Life with Seaweed-Derived Edible Coatings
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Video: Watch on Vimeo
- Prize: $10,000
Team ASAP
Camas High School, Camas, Washington
- Project title: Automated Sporophyte Algae Production (ASAP)
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Prize: $10,000
The Algenius Thinkers
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Project title: Green Gold: A Dynamic Duo for Cleaner Energy
- Project summary: Abstract PDF
- Video: Watch on YouTube
- Prize: $10,000