Algae venture to make debut

Algae.Tec, an Australian-U.S. collaboration, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Australian ethanol producer Manildra Group for a demonstration algae production plant at Manildra’s starch and ethanol facility at Nowra on the New South Wales south coast. Leighton Contractors has a non-binding commitment to build and operate the Nowra plant, which Algae.Tec hopes will begin commercial production of algae biofuels by early next year. Algae.Tec Executive Chairman Roger Stroud said the plant would use an enclosed algae production method to minimize the use of land and consumption of water. (January 13, 2011)