Yields of algae are several fold higher than any other form of biomass that relies on solar energy.  Micro algae are rich in oils and have been examined as a potential source of renewable fuels.  However there are problem with this route in view of the large amounts of the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus that are needed for algal growth.  Anaerobic digestion is another option that permits the recovery of energy from these micro algae with the added benefit that it allows recovery of the nitrogen and phosphorus in the digestate.  Treated wastewaters also provide an ideal growing media that contains some of the nutrients needed together with a range of important trace elements.  The off gas from both aeration and digestion is rich in carbon dioxide.  In the former case micro algae can enrcih this with oxygen for recirculation, in the latter will polish the gas removing the carbon dioxide.  Waste heat from CHPs provide the opportunity to speed up algal growth.  Thus there is a lot of interest in how algae might be exploited within the water industry and this event seeks to explore the present status and future potential of the technology.