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RSS SubscribeTuesday 24th November 2009
Research focus on algal biofuels
A $5 million Photobioreactor Facility has been launched at the aquatic sciences laboratories of the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI).The facility will be used for R&D into microalgal biofuels and will be available to researchers on a national and international basis.
The production of biofuels from microalgae has attracted attention because of the relatively high yield of oil from algae, and its efficiency in fixing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
It is estimated that replacing just 10 per cent of Australia’s mineral diesel with biodiesel from microalgae would bring about a reduction of nearly four million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels.
The new facility is funded through the National Collaborative Research and Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). One of its first major clients is South-Australian based Algal Fuels Consortium (AFC) comprising SARDI Aquatic Sciences, Flinders University, Flinders Partners, CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship and Sancon Resources Recovery.
Meanwhile, in Queensland, a new algal bio-fuel research and development facility has been opened James Cook University in Townsville to develop algal carbon capture and storage (BIO-CCS) technology. The Algal Synthesiser team is led by Professor Rocky de Nys and Associate Professor Kirsten Heimann
In trials, the 5000-square-metre research plant has proven capable of producing 14,000 litres of oil and 25,000 kilograms of algal feed for livestock from every 100 tonnes of carbon consumed. In the next phase, JCU will partner with MBD Energy to construct test facilities at the Tarong Energy Power Station, and two coal-fired power stations in NSW and Victoria. MBD will invest $2.5 million in the pilot plant at Tarong. The trial aims to capture 700 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually and if successful could expand over the next five to ten years to consume more than half of Tarong’s flue-gas emissions.
MBD Energy Limited Chairman, Jerry Ellis, has predicted that BIO-CCS and Algal Synthesiser technology would emerge as a vital and viable CO2 abatement technology option for all existing coal and gas fired power stations, smelters and refineries around the world.
Further information
www.sardi.sa.gov.au/aquaculture/aquaculture/ncris_photobioreactor_facility
