The technical report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory dis­cusses further uses for extraction process by-products [19]. The high-value products such as pigments and omega-3 fatty acids could be separated and sold. Other high-value by-products could be developed as coproducts and exploited for commercial potential. The remaining high-protein solids could be used for animal feed. The residual biomass could also be used for fur­ther energy generation such as biomass gasification followed by methanol and dimethylether synthesis or feedstock for a combined heat and power (CHP) process. Profitable utilization of by-products is very important for the overall process economics of the algae-based biofuel process. Development of specialty end-uses of algae oil can provide another valuable option for the algae industry. Such specialty end-uses include utilization of algae oil as raw material or feedstock for the manufacture of biobased solvents, biobased lubricants, bioplastics, biodegradable plastics, functional fillers, and more.

Although the cost to manufacture products from algae oil is not currently competitive with that of petroleum-based products, further research in the area could make the process and its products economically feasible, while contributing to the sustainability of the society.