Aquatic Biofuels

The future energy strategy in developing and developed countries should be premised on promoting sustainability, efficiency and cost effectiveness in the production and conversion of this modern bioenergy resource. To this end, aquatic biofuels offer significant improvements compared to first generation biofuels, overcoming concerns about competition for land, stress of water resources and concerns about the low energy output per unit of land achievable. The term Aquatic Biofuels refers to biofuels produced from aquatic photosynthetic organisms (mainly algae) and organic wastes of the fish industry.

Around the world, an urgent demand for alternative, sustainable fuels and feedstocks is growing due to rising oil prices and growing pollution concerns. Compared to other feedstocks, algae holds enormous potential as a high-yield source of biodiesel, ethanol and aviation fuels without competing for food supplies or arable land.

Algae are the fastest-growing plants in the world. Like other plants, they use photosynthesis to harness sunlight and carbon dioxide. Energy is stored inside the cell as lipids (the source for oil) and carbohydrates. Algae can be converted into biodiesel, ethanol, biocrude and aviation fuels.

The cultivation of microalgae for biofuels in general and oil production in particular is not yet a commercial reality and, outside some niche, but significant, applications in wastewater treatment, still requires relatively long-term R&D. This is due in part to the high costs of even simple algae production systems, and in even larger part to the undeveloped nature of the required algal mass culture technology, from the selection and maintenance of algal strains in the cultivation systems, to achievement of high productivities of biomass with a high content of vegetable oils, or other biofuel precursors.

The Aquatic Biofuels Working Group (ABWG), established in September 2008 as an exploratory initiative of the FAO Inter-Departmental Working Group (IDWG) on Bioenergy, will assist countries in promoting research activities related to biofuel production from algae and fish waste, and appropriate technologies in order to exchange experiences and best practices. Given the significance of aquatic biofuels in enhancing energy security, productive uses and poverty reduction in developing countries, a Working Grouphas been established that would assist countries in promoting biofuel production from algae and fish waste related research activities. To know more about the ABWG visit: http://www.fao.org/bioenergy/aquaticbiofuels