When you think of ponds and algae, usually the first thought that comes to mind is how to keep algae out of a recreational pond—but ponds devoted to growing algae are growing in popularity because algae has a number of surprising uses. In fact, people have farmed algae for centuries, even though it has only recently come into commercial and industrial scale production.
Algae is becoming more popular as an alternative to fossil fuels because it can easily be converted into energy-rich fuel. It’s also a high-protein food source rich in minerals. Thus, the two most common types of algae ponds focus either on laver, which can be eaten, or specific types of microalgae that are ideal for the creation of biofuel.
