Japanese JV to develop world’s largest production capacity for algal-based biofuel
IHI Corp., Gene and Gene Technology (G>) and the Neo-Morgan Laboratory Inc. (NML), all from Japan, said they are forming a joint venture to conduct research and development of algae to produce biofuels. The new joint venture will pursue the development of a mass production system, using an algal species called Enomoto Alga, that will have the largest fuel production capacity in the world. The species , which was improved by Professor Taira Enomoto of Kobe University, has the highest growth rate of any algal variety capable of producing fuel. The new joint venture is called IHI NeoG Algae and will focus on the industrial application of microorganisms and the development of oil content separation and extraction methods, in addition to the improvement of the Enomoto Alga variety. (July 12,2011)
