Biofuel Harvested from Seaweed

decrease font size

increase font size

change type face

bookmark this page

email this page

print this page

Global Bioenergy Industry News

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Print This Page

Biofuel Harvested from Seaweed

CHILE - US company Bio Architecture Lab, which is pioneer in the application of synthetic biology and enzyme design to the development of biofuels and renewable chemicals from aquafarmed, native macroalgae, has launched a subsidiary in Chile.

BAL Chile has started cultivating 100 hectares of seaweed on the island of Chiloé.

According to a report in MercoPress, the company is investing $5 million in the project which includes a pilot production plant in Los Lagos.

The by-products from the biofuel production can be used for commercial iodine and also salmon feed.

The seaweed, which will cover 10,000 hectares, is expected to be ready for harvest by next June.

The MercoPress report says that the aim is to produce 165,000 cubic metres of ethanol - about five per cent of Chile's total gasoline consumption.

The company expects it will have to find $100 million in one or more large scale production plants.

TheBioenergySite News Desk