AlgaePrize | AlgaePrize Challenge by ATEC

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.

Watch and share how 15 finalist student teams converged over 3 days in 2023 for 1 shared goal at the inaugural competition: Showing the power of algae to help solve the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing our world today.

See below for the current AlgaePrize 2023–2025 finalist team names, locations, and brief descriptions of their proposed projects:

AlgaeNano+, San Juan, Puerto Rico: Developing carbon nanomaterials from macroalgae for use in high-demand industries like battery manufacturing, energy, and environmental remediation.

AlgaeUnlocked, Carbondale, Illinois: Exploring a low-energy, cost-effective, and efficient process for preparing microalgae for conversion into biostimulants and biofuels.

Algators, Livingston, New Jersey: Investigating algal biomass as an alternative nonsynthetic fertilizer for a local farm.

Aloha Limu, Hilo, Hawaii: Studying vertical seaweed cultivation methods to diversify and scale up production of native Hawaiian macroalgal species.

BlazerBloom, Frederick, Maryland: Using bioflocculation with magnetotactic bacteria to harvest and dewater microalgae for conversion into biofuels production.

Blue Genes, Fairfield, California: Creating an algae-derived dye with a focus on process optimization, improving output, and as a method to teach the community about algal products.

Clean Green Feed, Storrs, Connecticut: Producing a sustainable strain of microalgae high in methionine for use in chicken feeds.

Green Skies, Minneapolis, Minnesota: Applying machine-learning techniques to analyze land suitability, water stress, and economic factors to identify the best sites for Midwest microalgae growth.

Green Thumbs, Golden, Colorado: Working to improve the harvestability of saltwater microalgae by using a novel pH-mediated-electroflocculation method

JCCC Chlorella Cavaliers, Overland Park, Kansas: Developing a novel strain of Chlorella expressing plastic degrading enzymes to improve water quality in ecosystems.

Just AD Algae, Santa Fe, New Mexico: Preparing a scalable system to codigest microalgae with organic lipid waste resulting in decreased biogas production lag and increased biogas yield.

KelBerry, Storrs, Connecticut: Employing sugar kelp alginate as an edible food coating to extend strawberry shelf life.

Parachlorella Plastic Pals, La Jolla, California: Creating algae-based, biodegradable thermoplastic polyurethanes.

Team ASAP, Camas, Washington; Los Angeles and Irvine, California: Developing an efficient and scalable process for the industrialization of sporophyte generation.

The Algenius Thinkers, Austin, Texas: Studying the production of long-chain fatty acids from algae into short-chain fatty acids for lower biofuel production costs.

Learn more by visiting the official AlgaePrize 2023–2025 Competition site or by emailing algaeprize@thealgaefoundation.org.

Thank you to our Supporters

The AlgaePrize Competition, sponsored by the [U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office (https://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/bioenergy-technologies-office) (AFFO formerly BETO) and supported by The Algae Foundation and the [National Laboratory of the Rockies](https://www.nlr.gov/) (NLR), challenges students to become the next generation of bioeconomy professionals by developing novel solutions for algae production, processing, and new product development—paving the way toward gigaton-scale algae commercialization. Student teams compete for prize awards and national recognition, while shaping the global future of converting algae to biofuels (e.g., sustainable marine and aviation fuels), vitamin- and protein-rich foods and animal feeds, ecological services, and industrial compounds (e.g., biopolymers).

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](https://www.herox.com/AlgaePrize3)* for more information.*

Find more information below about our most recent competition, which concluded in July 2025.

The AlgaePrize Competition, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office (AFFO formerly BETO) and supported by The Algae Foundation and the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), challenges students to become the next generation of bioeconomy professionals by developing novel solutions for algae production, processing, and new product development—paving the way toward gigaton-scale algae commercialization. Student teams compete for prize awards and national recognition, while shaping the global future of converting algae to biofuels (e.g., sustainable marine and aviation fuels), vitamin- and protein-rich foods and animal feeds, ecological services, and industrial compounds (e.g., biopolymers).

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 STEM 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 NLR’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.

You may also find more information about each of our winning teams below.