Inventors to find affordable way to convert algae to energy

Riggs Eckelberry (L) and his brother Nicholas Eckelberry, both co-founders of OriginOil based in Los Angeles, frame a desktop model of their Helix BioReactor in Los Angeles December 12, 2008. OriginOil is in a race with hundreds of other companies to find an affordable way to convert algae to energy. Algae promises to use less land, water and other resources than other biofuels, such as corn. Picture taken December 12, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Nicholas Eckelberry, co-founder and inventor of OriginOil, demonstrates how a simple 99-cent coupling is used in a demonstration Helix BioReactor model that will facilitate algae growth with lab operations manager Nathan Morrison (background) at the company's laboratory in Los Angeles December 12, 2008. OriginOil is in a race with hundreds of other companies to find an affordable way to convert algae to energy. Algae promises to use less land, water and other resources than other biofuels, such as corn. Picture taken December 12, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Nicholas Eckelberry, co-founder and inventor of OriginOil, stands next to two test batches of nannochloropsis algae at the company's laboratory in Los Angeles December 12, 2008. OriginOil is in a race with hundreds of other companies to find an affordable way to convert algae to energy. Algae promises to use less land, water and other resources than other biofuels, such as corn. Picture taken December 12, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Riggs Eckelberry (L) and his brother Nicholas Eckelberry, both co-founders of OriginOil based in Los Angeles, frame a desktop model of their Helix BioReactor in Los Angeles December 12, 2008. OriginOil is in a race with hundreds of other companies to find an affordable way to convert algae to energy. Algae promises to use less land, water and other resources than other biofuels, such as corn. Picture taken December 12, 2008.