Professor Rose Ann Cattolico is an algae expert who has been studying these aquatic organisms for over 30 years. Together with her team at UNW (University of Washington) she will be working to produce certain strains of algae that produce specific lipids or oils required by the biofuel producers. A grant from Allied Minds has secured the University work to continue and a start up company called AXI has already been established.
Professor Cattolico explains that where one type of algae may be good for producing oil appropriate for a motor vehicle, another may be useful for home heating oil, and another one still to power airlines.
The yield of oil from micro algae is much higher when compared to agricultural biofuels. For example for the same amount of land used micro algae yield 40 times more than rapeseed and 100 times more than soya (for photo bio – reactor)
- Soya–446 liters yield from 1 hectare of land (mainly used in the US)
- Rape–1190 liters yield from 1 hectare of land (mainly used in EU)
- Micro algae–Up to 39 500 liters yield from 1 hectare of land
(photo bio-reactor technology)
The growing concern for climate change coupled with a rise in demand for alternative fuels and a growing concern on the use of agro-fuels (corn, rapeseed, and soya) is making fuel from algae a very interesting option.
However as Erick Rabins from AXI points, this will not “necessarily translate into rapid development of algae-based fuels. Entire infrastructures, from specialized growing facilities to processing plants, will have to be created, and that will come only after potential producers see the value and make the investment.”
Should technologies for alternative fuel development and energy security be hindered by economic viability or should a more holistic approach be taken, where we say we care for the environment and climate change therefore we commit to…….?
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Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuel Specialist, September 12, Rome
Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
