Algae's potential for biofuels

Goulburn Town & Country
Monday 5/5/2008 Page: 5

THE potential of algae to become a viable future feedstock for biofuels came under the microscope at a forum in Canberra last month. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation general manager of new rural industries and chairman of bioenergy Australia, Dr Roslyn Prinsley, said micro algae had huge potential, especially given the current world-wide demand for biofuels and the impact this was having on food crops and commodity prices.

"It is clear that for further expansion of biofuels to take place, then alternative feedstocks that are not used for food will have to be developed," he said. "Microalgae are microscopic plants that can have very high oil content - up to 60 per cent in some cases - that is suitable for biodiesel production. "Microalgae are more efficient converters of solar energy into biomass than any other plant and are capable of producing over 30 times the amount of oil per year for a given area than oilseed crops such as canola.

"They are also capable of growing in saline ponds in areas that would otherwise be unproductive, potentially offering an alternative use for salt-affected land. "Algae production can also be linked with waste-treatment processes and value-adding to co-product for industrial and commercial use." Leading Australian and international researchers in the field spoke at the forum, organised by bioenergy Australia, a government industry alliance of 63 organisations.