MacroBioCrude: Developing an Integrated Supply and Processing Pipeline for the Sustained Production of Ensiled Macroalgae-derived Hydrocarbon Fuels
Lead Research Organisation:
Swansea University
Department Name: College of Science
Abstract
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Publications
Flynn K
(2017)
What is the limit for photoautotrophic plankton growth rates?
in Journal of Plankton Research
Gallagher JA
(2017)
Dewatering treatments to increase dry matter content of the brown seaweed, kelp (Laminaria digitata ((Hudson) JV Lamouroux)).
in Bioresource technology
| Description | Our contribution is in providing bulk algal material for processing. We are developing new ways to on-grow juvenile weeds, and developing a new facility at Milford Haven. |
| Exploitation Route | We have a developing platform and would welcome others to join us a seek WEFO and allied funding to work at Milford Haven for both commercial development and also developing the work as mitigation against eutrophication |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Creative Economy,Environment |
| Description | 'Please see the impact description provided for EP/K014900/1' |
| Description | Seaweed gasification trials with Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Institute Branch Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Germany |
| Organisation | Fraunhofer Society |
| Department | Fraunhofer UMSICHT Institute Branch Sulzbach-Rosenberg |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Supply of ensiled and preserved seaweed for gasification |
| Collaborator Contribution | Gasification and associated analyses of the variously-treated seaweed samples |
| Impact | Report on gasification trial and associated analyses received (Thermo-chemical conversion of seaweed via TCR® Seaweed pellets from three sets of samples (early, mid, late)). The data are currently being drafted into a manuscript. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Seaweed growth at Milford Haven |
| Organisation | Milford Haven Port Authoriy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Assistance in building a seaweed culture system |
| Collaborator Contribution | Assistance in building a seaweed culture system |
| Impact | Developed as part of an EPSRC grant, but with clear potential for H2020, INTERREG and WEFO type of developments |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Susteen Technologies - Gasification Trial |
| Organisation | Susteen Technologies UK Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Provision of samples of ensiled seaweed for gasification. Analysis of resulting data |
| Collaborator Contribution | Undertaking the gasification trial and expert interpretation of data |
| Impact | This will deliver data on the ensiled materials; the trial is currently underway. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | BBC radio seaweed farm |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | - BBC Radio Wales : Interview for the show Country Focus about the seaweed farm in Pembroke aired on November 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://algaewales.wordpress.com/2016/11/16/algaewales-on-bbc-radio-wales/ |
| Description | Stakeholder meetings: a seaweed to fuels pipeline |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | In total there were 19 stakeholder interviews conducted between January and October of 2015. The stakeholders were identified using a mixture of literature and internet searchers as well as the snowballing technique. Stakeholder were then chosen based on their relevance to the development of seaweed biofuels within the UK, drawing from principles of stakeholder theory. Stakeholder group Respondent Description Government/Regulators/Environmental Agencies A Policy expert B Fisherman's Association Beach/Land owners/ Offshore wind C Oyster farmer/ seabed owner D Major off-shore wind generator Seaweed Industry / Fishing Industry E Aquaculture F Seaweed wild harvest G Fin-fish Aquaculture H Seaweed cultivation and harvest Silage experts I Silage construction Biofuel producers J Major EU biofuel producer Fuel distributors/forecourts K Aviation biofuel distribution L UK International Airport End Users M British Airline N UK International Airport Consultancy and Academia O Seaweed expert (food) P Seaweed expert (academia) Q Algae Academic R Algae Academic Venture Capital S British Private Equity This study has revealed that seaweed biofuels are technically feasible within the UK. The technological barriers associated with seaweed cultivation and harvesting are largely overstated in the literature. Mechanised systems of cultivation and harvesting have been developed by specialised seaweed cultivation companies and there remains an open attitude to licence the technology in the future. The sector is being driven principally by the high-value markets for seaweed including animal feed, human food, pharmaceuticals and specialised chemicals. Biofuels are a marginal market for seaweed at the current time and it us suggested that seaweed based biofuels, using dedicated seaweed farms, is more than 10 years from commercial reality. The largest barriers for technological development are centred on high cost of production for the raw biomass, high opportunity costs from competing markets, and uncertainty surrounding the biofuel production process. Gasification and F-T will not be viable within the next 10 years due to the combined effects of a lack of biofuel policy support, low oil prices and high opportunity costs incurred from competing biomass markets. The UK gasification business models are focused on electricity production due to the negative feed-stock costs from municipal wastes and the availability of UK feed-in tariffs. Seaweed will most likely be sold into a growing high-value market for food, pharmaceuticals and animal feeds in the UK. If this market is targeted on a large scale, there is reasonable scope to use waste residues to make biofuels. However, gasification is not considered a favourable conversion technology due to the high energy inputs inherent to this conversion pathway. UK renewable energy policy for biofuel technology is in state of retrenchment and uncertainty whereas electrical production from gasification is seen as one of the most stable. Private investment into biofuel production technologies, especially those with novelty, has become extremely challenging within the UK because of the lack of long-term stable biofuel policy outlook. The growth of the seaweed industry also suffers from a lack of reliable data and studies looking at the environmental impact of large scale mono-culture sites. This is slowing down legislative approval for larger scale demonstration sites and in turn increasing technological risk and lowering the chances of private investment. In terms of public perceptions, seaweed biofuels were largely viewed in a positive light owing the perceived energy security benefits for the UK. The initial development of seaweed cultivation sites will likely face some backlash from local communities, especially those in virgin coastal areas. However, the visual impact is perhaps marginal compared to the wider environmental concerns that the public have for large-scale seaweed cultivation. The principal reason for their concern centres on the fact that there is a lack of environmental assessment data available to them. The public need more information about seaweed biofuel technology including the likely sizes and location of the seaweed farms as well as the environmental impacts of the technology on local wild-life. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | macroalgal biofuels |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | - BBC Wales and The Western Telegraph articles published in May 2016 on the subject of exploiting seaweed as biofuels, linked to the seaweed farm in Pembroke |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://algaewales.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/seaweed-farm-examines-biofuel-potential-the-western-tele... |