SINTEF Exploring Potential for Kelp-Derived Biofuels
08 November 2009
The SINTEF Group, the largest independent research organization in Scandinavia, has opened a new full-scale laboratory for kelp cultivation to assess the potential use of that macroalgae as a feedstock for sustainable biofuels.
Liquid biofuels have met a lot of negative criticism because current production of bioethanol and biodiesel is based on vegetable products that could have been used for food, or that are produced on land that could have been used to cultivate food. Many countries, including Norway, have raised the alarm about this trend.
Cultivating kelp will supply us with fuels without using food as a raw material, and without taking up either good soil or freshwater resources. And Norway enormous areas that are very suitable for cultivating kelp. Our coastline, including all its islands, is twice as long as the Equator. Norway’s economic zone is twice as large as the land area of Sweden.
—Senior scientist Jorunn Skjermo
Skjermo says that SINTEF has already performed a number of studies on potential production cost, and has so far concluded that a kelp biofuel operation would be at least as good economically as production based on timber.
Cultivation, however, would be required. Norway has trawled for kelp commercially on the coast for 35 years, Skjermo says, and harvests about 170,000 tonnes each year primarily for use in a range of food products.
The quantity of kelp harvested in Norway is kept at a sustainable level and cannot be increased just like that. Any outtake over current levels will have to be based on cultivation.
—Jorunn Skjermo
SINTEF is experimenting to clarify which species of kelp are most suitable for cultivation in northern waters.
Resources
A.B. Ross, J.M. Jonesa, M.L. Kubackia and T. Bridgemana (2008) Classification of macroalgae as fuel and its thermochemical behaviour. Bioresource Technology doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2007.11.036
Norway is a huge supplier of petroleum. It is now probably the only petroleum-supplying country putting significant resources into finding an alternative to petroleum. They are smart enough to realize that the petroleum party is going to end at some point and if they don't have an alternative to supply, somebody else will. As for the other petroleum-based economies, I imagine they'll be left with no economy at all.
Posted by: Peter9909 | 08 November 2009 at 09:58 AM
Natural Kelp beds are environmentally delicate, lets hope the proposed farms don't harm the native ones.
There is a basic flaw in this logic. Quote:
Liquid biofuels have met a lot of negative criticism because current production of bioethanol and biodiesel is based on vegetable products that could have been used for food, or that are produced on land that could have been used to cultivate food. Many countries, including Norway, have raised the alarm about this trend.
Cultivating kelp will supply us with fuels without using food as a raw material, and without taking up either good soil or freshwater resources.
Cultivation, however, would be required. Norway has trawled for kelp commercially on the coast for 35 years, Skjermo says, and harvests about 170,000 tonnes each year ***primarily for use in a range of food products.***
Posted by: arnold | 08 November 2009 at 12:47 PM
Growing Kelp (algae) in shallow seas for biofuel production would not be so different than growing switchgrass or corn on land for the same purpose.
Both would use land/sea areas that could produce edible food.
Without birth limitation and/or major uncontrolable deseases, Earth's population could reach 10 to 12 billion within one century or many more billion by 2300. If that happens, most food producing sea and land areas may be required.
Will it be possible to return areas used to produce liquid fuel to food production when required?
Electrified vehicles using clean electricity from wind turbines, solar panels, waves, hydro, and nuclear power plants is a better long term solution.
Posted by: HarveyD | 08 November 2009 at 02:20 PM