INTRODUCTION It is widely recognized that the current rate of fossil fuel consumption is not sustainable and the depletion of crude oil and petroleum fuels has created strong interest in finding means alternatives to produce energy. In developed countries, the average lifestyle is desperately dependent on increasingly limited resources. People can wait until relying on fossil fuels is critically inhibitory and be forced to transition to survive, or they can choose to adapt now as it is only a matter of time. American consumers are being reminded more often of their personal dependence on fossil fuels when they fuel up. their vehicle at the gas station. Many would not know or care about the price of a barrel of oil if it did not affect the cost of weekly refueling. In addition to hybrid cars that use both electric and standard motors, some vehicle manufacturers have recently produced cars that run on a rechargeable battery, suggesting that rechargeable fuel cells could be the future of sustainable transportation. However, charging fuel cells takes time and drivers are used to a more tangible refueling procedure. Consumers want a fast, portable, efficient and economical fuel source comparable to today's liquid fuels. Algae-based biofuels are a major contender in the race for viable alternatives to traditional petroleum fuels. Companies like ExxonMobil have invested several hundred million dollars in research into algae biofuel technology, likely to move into the next generation of oilfield services without losing customers to competitors. This research is divided into categories based on factors that inhibit large-scale production of algae biofuels, work done by the main competitor...... middle of article ......ay, T., Benemann , J., & Roessler, P. (1998). A Look at the USDA Department of Energy Aquatic Species Program – Biodiesel from Algae. Retrieved from http://www.biodiesel.pl/uploads/media/A_Look_Back_at_the_U.S._Department_of_Energy_s_Aquatic_Species_Program_Biodiesel_from_Algae_July_1998.pdf Vasudevan P., & Briggs, M. (2008). Biodiesel production: state of the art and current challenges. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. 35, 5:421-430. Retrieved from http://www.springerlink.com/content/6837rr026w91gg77/Walker, D. (2009). Biofuels, facts, imagination and feasibility. Journal of Applied Phycology, 21.5:509-517. Retrieved from http://www.springerlink.com/content/p3064x5344334w37/150mpg Toyota Prius powered by algae. Alternative energy. (2009, September 13). Retrieved from http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/150mpg-algae-powered-toyota-prius/