現在、藻を使用したバイオ燃料が生産可能であることがわかっていますが、この原油高やトウモロコシによる食料危機を受けて、食べ物とぶつからない藻のバイオ燃料が急速に注目を集めているようです。
しかし、生産コストはまだ1kg1200円程度だそうで、実用化に向けてはこれを100円程度まで下げる必要があります。
コストを10分の1以下にすることは並大抵なことではありませんが、必ずコストは下げられるでしょう。
オイルを確保する必要が下がれば、平和にも貢献するかもしれません。
WA kick starts algae-to-biodiesel research
PERTH, AUSTRALIA: Western Australian (WA) researchers aim to turn vast saline ponds of algae into clean, affordable fuel to help solve the global energy crisis in a new US$1.9 million Federal government-backed research project by Murdoch University.
Murdoch Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Jim Reynoldson said the University had received US$1.8 million from the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
The research project will see 20 scientists develop and oversee large scale open ponds or 'photo-bioreactors' of algae growing in saline water in Australia, India and China - as part of Australia's commitment to the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.
Murdoch University's Professor Michael Borowitzka, who leads the project, claims algae is the most promising biofuel option on the planet as it doesn't compete with food production, can be grown in saline water, and produces 10 to 20 times the oil produced by other crops.
Australia was ideally placed for large scale algae biofuel production, he said, given its quantities of sunlight, easily accessible saline water and non arable land. However, it was currently too costly a process to be economically viable.
"At present the cost of producing biofuel from algae is too high," said Professor Borowitzka.
"It costs A$12 (US$11.46) a kilogram, but we need to bring that down to A$1 (US$0.95) a kilogram using well adapted algae strains and improving all the production processes."
Professor Borowitzka has been working on finding elite strains of algae and developing applications for microalgae for 30 years and says the size of land required to produce fuel from algae was tiny compared to that needed for agricultural-based biofuels such as canola, sugarcane or corn.
"For Australia to produce one per cent of biodiesel from algae you'd need a 100 square kilometre (37 sq mile) size plant - which is small compared to up to 2000 square kilometres (772 sq miles) required for the same amount to be produced from canola."
The Murdoch-led project will also investigate the anticipated low levels of carbon emissions produced in algae fuel production, and possible further energy generation from algae waste.
The University of Adelaide, Parry Nutraceuticals in India and South China Institute of Technology are partnering Murdoch University in the research.
しかし、生産コストはまだ1kg1200円程度だそうで、実用化に向けてはこれを100円程度まで下げる必要があります。
コストを10分の1以下にすることは並大抵なことではありませんが、必ずコストは下げられるでしょう。
オイルを確保する必要が下がれば、平和にも貢献するかもしれません。
WA kick starts algae-to-biodiesel research
PERTH, AUSTRALIA: Western Australian (WA) researchers aim to turn vast saline ponds of algae into clean, affordable fuel to help solve the global energy crisis in a new US$1.9 million Federal government-backed research project by Murdoch University.
Murdoch Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Jim Reynoldson said the University had received US$1.8 million from the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
The research project will see 20 scientists develop and oversee large scale open ponds or 'photo-bioreactors' of algae growing in saline water in Australia, India and China - as part of Australia's commitment to the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.
Murdoch University's Professor Michael Borowitzka, who leads the project, claims algae is the most promising biofuel option on the planet as it doesn't compete with food production, can be grown in saline water, and produces 10 to 20 times the oil produced by other crops.
Australia was ideally placed for large scale algae biofuel production, he said, given its quantities of sunlight, easily accessible saline water and non arable land. However, it was currently too costly a process to be economically viable.
"At present the cost of producing biofuel from algae is too high," said Professor Borowitzka.
"It costs A$12 (US$11.46) a kilogram, but we need to bring that down to A$1 (US$0.95) a kilogram using well adapted algae strains and improving all the production processes."
Professor Borowitzka has been working on finding elite strains of algae and developing applications for microalgae for 30 years and says the size of land required to produce fuel from algae was tiny compared to that needed for agricultural-based biofuels such as canola, sugarcane or corn.
"For Australia to produce one per cent of biodiesel from algae you'd need a 100 square kilometre (37 sq mile) size plant - which is small compared to up to 2000 square kilometres (772 sq miles) required for the same amount to be produced from canola."
The Murdoch-led project will also investigate the anticipated low levels of carbon emissions produced in algae fuel production, and possible further energy generation from algae waste.
The University of Adelaide, Parry Nutraceuticals in India and South China Institute of Technology are partnering Murdoch University in the research.