NNFCC to Investigate Environmental Impacts of Algae Bioenergy

Algae/Other Aquatic Organisms/Seaweed, BioChemicals/Renewable Chemicals, Policy, R & D Focus, Sustainability, UK (United Kingdom)

August 24, 2011

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(National Centre for Biorenewable Energy, Fuels and Materials) The new research will explore what needs to be done to sustainably produce bioenergy, biofuels and biochemicals from algae in the UK.

Algae have the potential to make a significant contribution towards our future renewable energy, fuels and chemicals ambitions in the UK. However, there remain big gaps in our understanding of the environmental impacts of large scale algae production and its conversion into useable products.

This is why the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Technology Strategy Board (TSB) ‘Algal Bioenergy Special Interest Group (AB-SIG)’ have commissioned the NNFCC to identify and assess the steps that need to be taken before sustainable, large scale production can begin.

“As the UK’s National Centre for Biorenewable Energy, Fuels and Materials, the NNFCC are well placed to identify UK strategic and applied (industry-relevant) R&D priorities, technology needs and costs to deliver identified knowledge gaps and technologies needs in the field of algal commercialisation projects relevant to bioenergy and biochemicals,” said Dr Michele Stanley, the Director of AB-SIG.

The report, to be produced by the NNFCC, will be used to inform decisions on the format and detail of future networking and activities undertaken through the AB-SIG. It will focus on the affects commercial algae production could have on ecosystem services and biodiversity.

It will also provide a reference document to inform policy-makers and funders about the key strategic, industry-relevant, research and technology requirements necessary to establish a competitive and environmentally sustainable position for the UK in the emerging bio-based economy in the field of algal bioenergy and biochemicals. READ MORE

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