Monday, September 22, 2008

Samantha McCaughren

New sources of biofuel are being researched as concerns have grown around biofuels made from crops. Biofuels derived from crops such as grain or oilseed have fallen out of favour due to concerns that they are pushing up food costs.

Irish biofuels company AER and the National University of Ireland in Galway (NUIG) have developed the new technology, which converts algae to commercially-viable transport fuel. Enterprise Ireland co-funded the research and development work.

Several major international companies, including Shell and Chevron, are investing in algae-to-biofuels facilities. AER plans to commercialise the technology for the world market in the near future. It is likely to seek to license the technology.

John Travers, chief executive of AER, said that next-generation biofuels, would play a key part in meeting future energy needs in a sustainable way, without competing with food. AER got involved with the NUIG team, which is led by D r Patrick Murray, about 18 months ago.

``There is still some additional development to be done but I guess the most important part of the puzzle has been solved in that we`ve proven the ability to convert it," said Travers.

``Ireland`s coastline provides prolific growth of more than 500 species of algae, and certain microalgae can double in mass within a few days, under the right conditions," said Travers.

``This represents a big step forward from current sources of biofuel feedstock, such as grain or oilseeds, which require the use of valuable land and take several months to grow fully."

However, algae for biofuel would be better suited to warmer climates to grow it at very fast rates.

It would be grown in controlled environments, rather than offshore.

The EU commission has set targets to substitute 5.75 per cent of fossil fuels with biofuels by 2010.

Several countries, including Britain, Germany and Spain, have introduced biofuels blending obligations to help meet these targets. Ireland is expected to introduce a similar obligation in 2009.

AER is involved in next-generation biofuels development, as well as biofuel production projects in Europe, east Africa and central America.


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