MacroBioCrude: Developing an Integrated Supply and Processing Pipeline for the Sustained Production of Ensiled Macroalgae-derived Hydrocarbon Fuels
Lead Research Organisation:
University of the Highlands and Islands
Department Name: NAFC Marine Centre UHI
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Adams JMM
(2020)
Evaluation of pyrolysis chars derived from marine macroalgae silage as soil amendments.
in Global change biology. Bioenergy
Rolin C
(2017)
Regrowth and biofouling in two species of cultivated kelp in the Shetland Islands, UK
in Journal of Applied Phycology
| Description | In liaison with Dr Trisha Toop and Prof. Mike Theodorou of Harper Adams University, project staff at the University of the Highlands & Islands (NAFC Marine Centre, Shetland) have helped to optimize seaweed ensilage protocols by undertaking both small-scale (triplicated 1kg samples) and large-scale (triplicated 60kg samples) seaweed ensilage trials at the NAFC Marine Centre's research hatchery in Shetland, comparing ensiling efficiencies of cultivated brown kelp species harvested during early growing season (April/May), mid- growing season (June), and late growing season (August). The ensiling efficiencies of wild-harvested kelp species were also trialled using seaweeds collected from rocky shores and from commercial mussel cultivation lines. The trials demonstrated that brown kelps ensile well and can still be used for aviation biofuel production over 12 months after the crops' initial ensilage. However, for best results, it is very important to harvest and ensile seaweed prior to the heavy biofouling by tunicates that tends to occur on some species of brown kelp later in the summer. |
| Exploitation Route | Long-term storage of seaweeds via ensilage increases the opportunity for seaweeds to be used for aviation biofuel production. |
| Sectors | Energy,Environment,Transport |
| Description | Please see the impact description provided for EP/K014900/1. In addition, our PDRA within this project (Christine Rolin) contributed to a community outreach programme entitled 'Fuelling the Future - Biofuels from Kelp' that produced learning materials for use in schools. These materials are now publicly available at: https://www.nafc.uhi.ac.uk/t4-media/one-web/nafc/research/document/seaweed-cultivation/Fuelling-the-Future.pdf for downloading by teachers. CR also gave presentations about biofuels from seaweeds to participants of Shetland's Classic Motor Show and the wider public. Several SMEs in Shetland have begun to diversify by producing food, confectionary and cosmetic products containing seaweed and particularly aimed at the tourist market. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Creative Economy,Education,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Retail,Transport |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic |
| Description | Collaborating with other MACROBIOCRUDE partners over manuscripts resulting from the project |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-authoring manuscript concerning evaluation of pyrolysis chars derived from marine macroalgae silage as soil amendments |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-authoring manuscript concerning evaluation of pyrolysis chars derived from marine macroalgae silage as soil amendments |
| Impact | Submission of manuscript to GCB Bioenergy on 24th Jan 2020 |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Collaborating with other MACROBIOCRUDE partners over manuscripts resulting from the project |
| Organisation | Harper Adams University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-authoring manuscript concerning evaluation of pyrolysis chars derived from marine macroalgae silage as soil amendments |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-authoring manuscript concerning evaluation of pyrolysis chars derived from marine macroalgae silage as soil amendments |
| Impact | Submission of manuscript to GCB Bioenergy on 24th Jan 2020 |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Large Scale Provision of Cultured and Wild Seaweed Samples; Ensilage Research Visit Series |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Department | Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Because of our ready access to seaweed crops and our access to work-boats, we have agreed to assist MacroBioCrude project staff from Harper Adams to sample cultivated kelp seaweed from the NAFC Marine Centre's longlines and also wild kelp from Shetland's beaches and cultivated mussel lines for the project's large-scale ensilage trials which are now being run at the NAFC Marine Centre in 2015 and 2016, rather than at Swansea University's facilities as initially planned. NAFC will provide 18 x 80L cylindriconical tanks for the replicated ensilage trials designed to compare seaweed provenance and harvest season. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 2015 NAFC Research Visit 1: 15 - 21 May 2015: Two Harper Adams staff travelled to NAFC and successfully undertook sampling and ensilage of early summer kelp with support from project staff based at the NAFC Marine Centre. 2015 NAFC Research Visit 2: 2 - 10 July 2015: Two Harper Adams staff travelled to NAFC to undertake sampling and ensilage of mid summer kelp in conjunction with project staff from at the NAFC. 2015 NAFC Research Visit 3: 27 Aug - 3rd Sep 2015: Two Harper Adams staff travelled to NAFC to undertake sampling and ensilage of mid summer kelp with harvesting and processing support from project staff based at the NAFC. Discussion of interim results and future collaboration. 2016 NAFC Research Visit 1: 26 April - 28 April 2015: Two Harper Adams staff travelled to NAFC for research planning and disscussing potential innovation grant applications with project staff and local seaweed stakeholders at the NAFC Marine Centre. 2016 NAFC Research Visit 2: 2th - 7th June 2015 incl: One Harper Adams staff-member travelled to NAFC to undertake sampling and ensilage of earl- summer kelp with strong support from project staff based at the NAFC. 2016 NAFC Research Visit 3: 5th - 8th July 2015 incl: Harper Adams staff travelled to NAFC to undertake final sampling and ensilage of mid summer kelp with support from project staff based at the NAFC. |
| Impact | Successfully set up replicated ensilage trials of early summer kelp in late May 2015 Continued to successfully set up replicated ensilage trials of mid summer kelp in early July 2015 plus further replicated ensilage trials of late summer kelp in late August/early Sep 2015. These Harper Adams/NAFC seaweed ensiling trials were repeated in 2016, with the seaweed processing and ensiling taking place in the shore-base of a commercial mussel company in Shetland. All the 2015 replicated ensilages were stored at the NAFC Marine Centre until they completed the same ensilage duration. At that point they were transferred to a pallet and shipped to Aberystwyth University for bulk drying and pelleting prior to being passed on to partners involved in the biofuel production process. Following harvest, the 2016 seaweed ensilages were quiickly transported to Aberystwyth to complete the same ensiling time-period there. Six large-scale (~60L), replicated early-summer (2015) ensiled seaweed samples were shipped to our partners at Aberystwyth for further processing on 25th November 2015. Six large-scale (~60L) replicated mid-summer (2015) ensiled seaweed samples were shipped to our partners at Aberystwyth for further processing on 14th January 2016. Six large-scale (~60L) replicated late-summer (2015) ensiled seaweed samples were shipped to our partners at Aberystwyth for further processing on 25th February 2016. Six large-scale (~60L), replicated early-summer (2016) ensiled seaweed samples were shipped to our partners at Aberystwyth for further processing on 9th June 2016. Six large-scale (~60L), replicated mid-summer (2016) ensiled seaweed samples were transported from NAFC Marine Centre by our Harper Adams partners on 8th July 2016. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Large Scale Provision of Cultured and Wild Seaweed Samples; Ensilage Research Visit Series |
| Organisation | Harper Adams University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Because of our ready access to seaweed crops and our access to work-boats, we have agreed to assist MacroBioCrude project staff from Harper Adams to sample cultivated kelp seaweed from the NAFC Marine Centre's longlines and also wild kelp from Shetland's beaches and cultivated mussel lines for the project's large-scale ensilage trials which are now being run at the NAFC Marine Centre in 2015 and 2016, rather than at Swansea University's facilities as initially planned. NAFC will provide 18 x 80L cylindriconical tanks for the replicated ensilage trials designed to compare seaweed provenance and harvest season. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 2015 NAFC Research Visit 1: 15 - 21 May 2015: Two Harper Adams staff travelled to NAFC and successfully undertook sampling and ensilage of early summer kelp with support from project staff based at the NAFC Marine Centre. 2015 NAFC Research Visit 2: 2 - 10 July 2015: Two Harper Adams staff travelled to NAFC to undertake sampling and ensilage of mid summer kelp in conjunction with project staff from at the NAFC. 2015 NAFC Research Visit 3: 27 Aug - 3rd Sep 2015: Two Harper Adams staff travelled to NAFC to undertake sampling and ensilage of mid summer kelp with harvesting and processing support from project staff based at the NAFC. Discussion of interim results and future collaboration. 2016 NAFC Research Visit 1: 26 April - 28 April 2015: Two Harper Adams staff travelled to NAFC for research planning and disscussing potential innovation grant applications with project staff and local seaweed stakeholders at the NAFC Marine Centre. 2016 NAFC Research Visit 2: 2th - 7th June 2015 incl: One Harper Adams staff-member travelled to NAFC to undertake sampling and ensilage of earl- summer kelp with strong support from project staff based at the NAFC. 2016 NAFC Research Visit 3: 5th - 8th July 2015 incl: Harper Adams staff travelled to NAFC to undertake final sampling and ensilage of mid summer kelp with support from project staff based at the NAFC. |
| Impact | Successfully set up replicated ensilage trials of early summer kelp in late May 2015 Continued to successfully set up replicated ensilage trials of mid summer kelp in early July 2015 plus further replicated ensilage trials of late summer kelp in late August/early Sep 2015. These Harper Adams/NAFC seaweed ensiling trials were repeated in 2016, with the seaweed processing and ensiling taking place in the shore-base of a commercial mussel company in Shetland. All the 2015 replicated ensilages were stored at the NAFC Marine Centre until they completed the same ensilage duration. At that point they were transferred to a pallet and shipped to Aberystwyth University for bulk drying and pelleting prior to being passed on to partners involved in the biofuel production process. Following harvest, the 2016 seaweed ensilages were quiickly transported to Aberystwyth to complete the same ensiling time-period there. Six large-scale (~60L), replicated early-summer (2015) ensiled seaweed samples were shipped to our partners at Aberystwyth for further processing on 25th November 2015. Six large-scale (~60L) replicated mid-summer (2015) ensiled seaweed samples were shipped to our partners at Aberystwyth for further processing on 14th January 2016. Six large-scale (~60L) replicated late-summer (2015) ensiled seaweed samples were shipped to our partners at Aberystwyth for further processing on 25th February 2016. Six large-scale (~60L), replicated early-summer (2016) ensiled seaweed samples were shipped to our partners at Aberystwyth for further processing on 9th June 2016. Six large-scale (~60L), replicated mid-summer (2016) ensiled seaweed samples were transported from NAFC Marine Centre by our Harper Adams partners on 8th July 2016. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Macroalgae Silage Workshop at NAFC Marine Centre (UHI) |
| Organisation | Harper Adams University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I hosted a mini-workshop (13th -15th October 2014) for three MacroBioCrude project staff from Harper-Adams University (silage and fermentation experts: Prof Mike Theodorou and Drs. Trisha Toop and Jim Huntington) to demonstrate the potential facilities available at the NAFC Marine Centre for the large-scale macroalgal silage studies planned within the MacroBioCrude project and our availability of macroalgae for this work. Initially, plans for these large-scale ensilage trials had only included Harper Adams University and Aberystwyth University but the NAFC Marine Centre will now been included in these trials in 2015. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Knowledge transfer of seaweed ensilage methods to staff at the NAFC Marine Centre for future use within Shetland. |
| Impact | Extended collaboration within the MacroBioCrude project, increasing the likelihood of success of the project and of work tasks being completed. Knowledge transfer of seaweed ensilage methods to the Shetland Isles. In 2015 & 2016, this collaboration meant that the NAFC Marine Centre was able to step in to provide bulk samples of wild and cultivated seaweed to the MacroBioCrude project in order to avoid the risk of workpackage schedule slippage caused by unforeseen delays in Swansea's seaweed cultivation site licence being granted by the regulatory authorities (see further details in Further Outcomes section). |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Attendance and poster presentation at MASTS Annual Science Meeting 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented an electronic poster at Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) Annual Science Meeting 2015 in Glasgow. Useful discussion and questions. Useful networking with other seaweed-related researchers and with the MASTS/SAIC aquaculture workshop following the main meeting. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.masts.ac.uk/annual-science-meeting/ |
| Description | Attendance at MacroBioCrude project progress meeting at Birmingham, 7 September 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | About 14 MacroBioCrude project staff attended a project workshop at Birmingham University (this venue was selected as a central location despite it not being a member of the research consortium) to give presentation to each other about each partner's progress to date and next steps. Outcomes: 1). The best transport and processing strategies for processing the large-scale ensiled seaweed samples generated by the project were discussed and selected. 2). Better understanding of each partner's tasks, successes and challenges. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Attendance at Project Kick-off meeting in Birmingham, July 2013 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
| Results and Impact | The MacroBioCrude consortium members had a better understanding of each others institutions, facilities and roles within the project workpackages. Set up a drop-box arrangement for MacroBioCrude project shared folders. Better communication between MacroBioCrude consortium members. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Attendance at Project Progress Meeting at Durham University in November 2013 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Shared information about progress of the project by individual consortium members and made decisions about the next steps, timing of sampling, logistics of sample distribution etc. Newly recruited PDRAs who had not been present at the kick-off meeting in July 2013 were able to attend this progress meeting, meet other members of the consortium and share information with them. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | C. Rolin introduced project to 15 Aberdeen marine biology undergraduates visiting NAFC Marine Centre for a week fieldtrip. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | C. Rolin gave a presentation to introduce the MacroBioCrude research project to 15 Aberdeen marine biology undergraduates visiting NAFC Marine Centre for a week fieldtrip. Followed this up with practical demonstrations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | International Seaweed Symposium 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Project researcher (CR) attended this conference and gave an oral presentation at the biggest conference she had yet attended and the largest within the field of seaweed research. She increased her knowledge about recent relevant research, ranging from seaweed ecology to seaweed farming. Feedback from the audience was very positive. Attending the event allowed submission of a manuscript to the Journal of Applied Phycology for acceptance into the special issue for the Proceedings of the International Seaweed Symposium 2016. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.iss-2016.org/ehome/iss2016/327616/ |
| Description | Lesley McEvoy invited to discuss 'Seaweed in Shetland & its relation to coastal communities of the future' in online workshop: 'Scottish coastal communities & marine biodiversity: knowledge, extraction & use of marine resources past, present & future" organized by Prof A. Brown (Intellectual Property Law, Aberdeen), Prof M. Jaspars (Chemistry, Aberdeen) & Prof M. Massimi (Philosophy, Edin) - funded by RSE Saltire project: 'Scientific Knowledge Across Jurisdictions'. Scheduled for 6th May 2022. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Lesley McEvoy gave a VC presentation entitled 'Seaweed in Shetland & its relation to coastal communities of the future' on 6th May 2022 within an online workshop: 'Scottish coastal communities & marine biodiversity: knowledge, extraction & use of marine resources past, present & future" organized by Prof A. Brown (Intellectual Property Law, Aberdeen), Prof M. Jaspars (Chemistry, Aberdeen) & Prof M. Massimi (Philosophy, Edin) - funded by RSE Saltire project: 'Scientific Knowledge Across Jurisdictions'. Audience consisted of invited RSE Research Fellows from a variety of disciplines. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | MBRE 2016: International Conference on Marine Biomass for Renewable Energy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Researcher within the MacroBioCrude project (CR) attended the conference and presented a paper entitled 'The Potential for Kelp Production in Shetland'. This has been submitted for publication as a short paper within the conference proceedings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.marinescienceandtechnology.com/conferences-and-events/2016/march/mbre-2016-international-... |
| Description | MacroBioCrude Project Workshop at NAFC Marine Centre (UHI) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
| Results and Impact | As a result of seeing marine hatchery facilities at the NAFC Marine Centre (UHI) and potential for large-scale macroalgal provision, MacroBioCrude project staff from Harper Adams University decided to extend their large-scale seaweed ensilage trials to include trials in Shetland at the NAFC Marine Centre in 2015. The Shetland aquaculture community will benefit from practical demonstrations of seaweed ensilage from Harper Adams staff and this knowledge transfer which will help support seaweed cultivation and utilization. The decision to include the NAFC Marine Centre as an additional site for large-scale ensilage trials will strengthen the MacroBioCrude project's likelihood of success and help ensure work-packages and work tasks are delivered on time. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.nafc.uhi.ac.uk/media/news/macrobiocrude-project |
| Description | Online VC presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lesley McEvoy gave a VC presentation entitled 'Seaweed in Shetland & its relation to coastal communities of the future' on 6th May 2022 within an online workshop: 'Scottish coastal communities & marine biodiversity: knowledge, extraction & use of marine resources past, present & future" organized by Prof A. Brown (Intellectual Property Law, Aberdeen), Prof M. Jaspars (Chemistry, Aberdeen) & Prof M. Massimi (Philosophy, Edin) - funded by RSE Saltire project: 'Scientific Knowledge Across Jurisdictions'. Audience consisted of invited RSE Research Fellows from a variety of disciplines - arts as well as sciences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |