Seaweed fuel

Seaweed fuel or seaweed oil is an alternative to liquid fossil fuels that uses seaweed as its source of energy-rich oils. Like fossil fuel, seaweed fuel releases CO2 when burnt, but unlike fossil fuel, algae fuel and other biofuels only release CO2 recently removed from the atmosphere via photosynthesis as the seaweed or plant grew.

Unlike algae, seaweed does not require fresh water and can as such be grown in the sea.[1]

Fuels

Seaweed can be converted into various types of fuels, depending on the technique and the part of the cells used. Also, using techniques such as fast hydrothermal liquefaction, oil yield for the seaweed can be increased.[2][3]

Biodiesel

Transesterification of seaweed oil (into biodiesel) is possible with species such as Chaetomorpha linum, Ulva lactuca, Enteromorpha compressa (Ulva).[4]

Ethanol and butanol

Following species are being investigated as suitable species for producing ethanol and/or butanol from:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Seaweed ocean farms being set up by companies
  2. ↑ Fast hydrothermal liquefaction of a Norwegian macro-alga: Screening tests
  3. ↑ Turning Humble Seaweed to Biofuel
  4. ↑ Macroalgae-Derived Biofuel: A Review of Methods of Energy Extraction from Seaweed Biomass
  5. ↑ From the Sea to the Pump: Is Kelp a Viable Biofuel?
  6. ↑ SAMS MacroFuels project using species such as dabberlocks, sugar kelp and dulse
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