Durban Project Aiming for Fuel from Algae

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TheBioenergySite Latest News

Friday, April 18, 2008

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Durban Project Aiming for Fuel from Algae

DURBAN - According to IOL, the city of Durban is aiding in the development of a new liquid fuel technology involving the harvest of tint plants and nutrients from local sewage.

Unlike other plant-based biofuels which require vast tracts of fertile farmland or the diversion of food crops into fuel tanks, the Durban experiment involves growing algae in semi-purified sewage water and then converting these microscopic plant organisms into a liquid fuel that can power diesel cars and trucks.

Engineers are about to start converting part of the Kingsburgh sewage treatment works into a biodiesel farming experiment as part of a two-year scientific pilot project run by the Durban University of Technology's school of water and wastewater technology.

According to a background document, the project has the potential to "revolutionise" the biofuels industry in KZN, as well as provide important environmental and economic benefits for the city.

Apart from providing new large-scale algae-to-biofuel farming jobs in rural areas, some of the by-products would include animal feedstock, soap and candles.

View the IOL story by clicking here.

TheBioenergySite News Desk