Why Algae

Algae is a truly sustainable resource. Its oil and biomass yield multiple end products and it is increasingly seen as the optimal renewable energy solution.

Algae yields 10-30 times more oil per hectare than existing oilseed crops. The remaining biomass residue is not waste and can be used as organic fertiliser, animal or fish food, nutraceuticals, and fuel for power generation.

Algae grows exponentially, and unlike trees and plants that are harvested once or twice a year, can generate a regular supply of raw material.

Algae can be cultivated in large open ponds located on non-arable land in a variety of climates and can thrive in salt or brackish water or nutrient-rich treated waste water. These characteristics mean that it bypasses the “food versus fuel” debate surrounding crop-based biofuel feedstocks.

With worldwide concerns about greenhouse emissions, large scale algae production presents another advantage. During photosynthesis, algae use solar energy to fix CO2 into biomass, which presents an opportunity to make productive use of CO2 emitted from power plants.