South Australia hosts microalgae research center

A new A$5 million (US$4.64 million) research facility has been opened at West Beach, south Australia, aiming to make fuel from algae. The process involves using carbon dioxide, salt water and sunshine to grow the microalgae. The center’s aim is to make production of fuel from microalgae commercially viable. Rob Thomas from the South Australian Research and Development Institute says the facility aims to develop alternative fuel for road and air transport. “The major aviation industry has formed the sustainable aviation users group and they are basically acknowledging that they cannot keep going with petroleum-derived aviation fuel and they see microalgae as the way forward,” Thomas said. (November 13, 2009)