Media Contact
For media support regarding the OMEGA project, please contact:
NASA Ames Research Center Newsroom
Phone: 650-604-4789
More Stories about OMEGA
Aquatic Biosystems. June, 2014, 10:3 DOI: 10.1186/2046-9063-10-3 →
CEC Final Report – November 2013 →
Bioresource Technology - September 2013 →
Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems (Most Popular paper) – March 23, 2013
NASA bags algae, wastewater in bid for aviation fuel (www.nytimes.com) →
NASA Grows Algae for Biofuel, Treats Waste (www.discovery.com) →
NASA Wants to Bag Biofuel From Sewage (www.greeneconomypost.com) →
Blooming Biofuel: How Algae Could Provide the Solution (www.renewableenergyworld.com) →
Potential of Algae - Interview with Dr. Jonathan Trent (www.greenenergytv.com) →
NASA Astrobiologist Jonathan Trent will go anywhere to find critters that could resemble extraterrestrials. (www.discovery.com) →
NASA Uses Algae to Turn Sewage Into Fuel (www.space.com) →
NASA’s got a new way to get biofuel from algae (www.cleantech.com) →
Overview
OMEGA Project 2009-2012
Offshore Membrane Enclosures for Growing Algae (OMEGA) is an innovative method to grow algae, clean wastewater, capture carbon dioxide and to ultimately produce biofuel without competing with agriculture for water, fertilizer or land.
NASA’s OMEGA system consists of large flexible plastic tubes, called photobioreactors. Floating in seawater, the photobioreactors contain freshwater algae growing in wastewater. These algae are among the fastest growing plants on Earth.
The algae use energy from the sun, carbon dioxide and nutrients from the wastewater to produce biomass that can be converted into biofuels as well as other useful products such as fertilizer and animal food. The algae clean the wastewater by removing nutrients that otherwise would contribute to marine deadzone formation.
NASA’s project goals are to investigate the technical feasibility of a unique floating algae cultivation system and prepare the way for commercial applications. Research by scientists and engineers has demonstrated that OMEGA is an effective way to grow microalgae and treat wastewater on a small scale.
The OMEGA system is being investigated by NASA as an alternative way to produce aviation fuels. Potential implications of replacing fossil fuels include reducing the release of green house gases, decreasing ocean acidification, and enhancing national security.
News and Features
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NASA Showcases Method To Grow Algae-Based BiofuelsNASA showcased the latest research on a method to grow algae, clean wastewater, capture carbon dioxide and ultimately produce feedstock for refining biofuels. |
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NASA Invites Media To Tour Wastewater Biofuels ProjectReporters are invited to attend a one-hour guided tour of NASA’s Offshore Membrane Enclosure for Growing Algae (OMEGA) system on April 17, 2012. |
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NASA Develops Algae Bioreactor as a Sustainable Energy SourceAs a clean energy alternative, NASA invented an algae photo-bioreactor that grows algae in municipal wastewater to produce biofuel and a variety of other products. |
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NASA Envisions "Clean Energy" From Algae Grown in Waste WaterWhen astronauts go into space, their living quarters on a spaceship require careful planning and management of limited resources, which is what inspired the project called "Sustainable Energy for Spaceship Earth.". |
More about OMEGA
Project Overview
Learn more about the OMEGA Project
› Download OMEGA Brochure
› Download OMEGA Fact Sheet
Meet the Team
Learn more about the OMEGA Team
› Jonathan Trent - Project Scientist
› Steve Ord - Project Manager
News & Multimedia Resources
View the latest news releases, images and videos about OMEGA.