The idea of using algae as a significant new source of fuel is moving rapidly from the science lab to large-scale production, to judge by a wave of big investments that have been made in the area in recent weeks.

The potential for using green slime to solve the energy crisis has been met with a new wave of enthusiasm from financial backers. However, this optimism has been tempered by the difficulties some producers have experienced in controlling very large growths of algae. Also, most industry analysts predict that it will still be some time before algae producers can demonstrate that their projects are commercially viable.