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THE BioMara project has been launched in Scotland to research the feasibility and sustainability of algal biofuels, from both microalgae (single-celled algae) and macroalgae (seaweed).

Marine algae is thought to be a promising source of biofuel as it requires little or no maintenance while growing and does not compete for land with agriculture. Most of the Scottish-Irish project’s €6m ($8.1m) funding came from the European Union’s Interreg IVa programme; the rest came from the Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Crown Estate, the Northern Ireland Executive and the government of Ireland.

The research will be led by Michele Stanley of the Scottish Association of Marine Science, supported by scientists from the University of Strathclyde, the University of Ulster, Queen’s University, the Dundalk Institute of Technology, and the Institute of Technology in Sligo.

"We do not know which strains are the most suitable to grow and convert, or the best cultivation conditions at large scales. We will therefore initially focus on creating new knowledge that should raise the efficiency of existing technologies as well as developing novel technologies. BioMara will further investigate process controls, engineering needs, supply chain issues and the social and economic impacts of algal biofuels," says Stanley.