Powering the Future: Biofuels

Activity: Culturing algae Describe the requirements for algal growth Culture algae in flasks or on agar Discuss the difficulties of growing algae in large quantities for biofuel production

To help combat climate change the UK has a target to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by % of the UK renewable energy could come from biomass heat and electricity by To meet the European Renewable Energy Directive, the UK is aiming for 10% of transport energy to be from renewable sources by % of the sustainable renewable road transport fuel used in the UK between April 2012 and April 2013 came from UK feedstocks. Facts and Figures

Algae : Algae are a diverse group of eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms. They can be single-celled (unicellular) or multicellular such as seaweed. Microalgae have been described as nature’s very own power cells and could provide alternatives to petroleum-based fuels without competing with crops.

Algae products : There are a wide range of bioenergy products that can be obtained from culturing algae including biomass for combustion to produce heat and electricity, fermentation to produce bioethanol, biobutanol or biogas, oil for conversion to biodiesel or even possibly algal synthesised biodiesel.

Algae light microscope image: In order to develop biofuels from algae, research is being conducted to find suitable strains that produce high levels of oils, can tolerate heat and high concentrations of carbon dioxide, and are easy to harvest. © Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Bubble Columns: Microalgae can be grown in large bioreactors and continually harvested unlike crops or macroalgae. They could be grown using the waste carbon dioxide from industrial processes, power stations or waste treatment plants. The oil they produce can then be converted into liquid fuel. © Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Scanning Electron Microscope image of algae: Algae can harvest the power of the sun through photosynthesis and convert this into biomass including oil. They are fast growing and more efficient than plants at absorbing carbon dioxide. © Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Scanning Electron Microscope image of algae: There may well be naturally occurring algae that can perform many of the tasks that we might want and researchers carrying out bioprospecting hope to identify suitable strains by selective screening. © Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Fluorescent staining of oil in algae: In order to develop algal biofuels research is being conducted to find suitable strains that produce high levels of oils, can tolerate heat and high concentrations of carbon dioxide, and are easy to harvest. © Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Scanning Electron Microscope image of algae: As well as producing hydrocarbons that can be converted into fuels or plastics some microalgae have unique abilities such as being able to produce hydrogen gas which can be used in fuel cells to produce electricity. © Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Activity: Culturing algae Describe the requirements for algal growth Culture algae in flasks or on agar Discuss the difficulties of growing algae in large quantities for biofuel production

Contributors