As　global　energy　shortages　and　environmental　problemsgetting　worse,　developing　new　sustainable　green　energy　technology　has　become　the　focus　attention　in　the　world.　As　a　new　technology　for　sustainable　development,　microbial　fuel　cells(MFCs)constructed　by　algae　can　achieve　energy　saving　and　environmental　protection.　Based　on　the　mechanism　and　the　selection　of　algae　species　in　the　MFCs,　this　paper　reviewed　the　state　of　art　of　MFCs　constructed　by　algae　in　terms　of　the　different　roles　which　algae　played.　The　capability　of　generating　electricity　and　removal　of　water　pollutant　from　a　practical　application　of　MFCs　was　illustrated　in　this　paper.　the　effect　of　main　environmental　factors　on　the　electricity　output　was　analyzed　and　the　current　problems　of　algae　built　MFCs,　such　as　the　economic　benefits,　industrial　and　electricity　production　efficiency,　were　summarized.　The　prospect　of　future　research　was　present　to　provide　basics　for　further　studying　MFCs　constructed　by　algae.　©　2016,　Chemical　Industry　Press.　All　right　reserved.