Microalgae to Fuel B.C.'s Diesel Needs
Media Release | May 5, 2008
BRITISH COLUMBIA - A $55,000 grant from the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands will assist in developing innovative technologies in microalgae that could one day fuel 100 per cent of B.C.'s diesel needs, announced Soren Harbel, Vice President, Innovation Development, British Columbia Innovation Council (BCIC).
"Culturing microalgae to produce biofuels and bioenergy is gaining momentum around the world," said Harbel. "This is a great opportunity for B.C. to lead the way in advancing alternative and clean energy technologies. It will be a significant step towards commercializing viable energy solutions."
The project will be a critical foundation for further work within government, academia, and the private sector for microalgae biomass research, development and technology deployment in British Columbia.
"The cost of food is rising, as a result we need to continue to explore non-feed stocks for next generation biofuel and bioenergy production and this is an important step in that direction," said Agriculture and Lands Minister Pat Bell. "We have made a commitment in our Agriculture Plan and in our Bioenergy Plan to explore new technologies and new ways of doing business - we want to have a positive impact on the environment and leave it in better shape than we found it."
Microalgae farms have great potential for meeting B.C.'s diesel needs, as they can produce substantially larger amounts of oil on less land, compared to sources like soybeans and canola. While microalgae farms could potentially meet 100 percent of the province's needs on less than 40,000 hectares, sources such as oilseeds, animal wastes, and fry oil can only satisfy 4.5 percent of this need.
Identifying this as a viable opportunity to explore alternative energy sources, BCIC is leading the project and contributing $10,000. BC Hydro and Canadian Bioenergy are also on board with contributions of $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. Environmentalists are keen on the ability of microalgae farms to capture carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere-a green advantage that furthers a carbon neutral B.C.
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For more information contact:
Lin Kishore
Director, Marketing & Communications
British Columbia Innovation Council
604.602.5251 | 1.800.665.7222
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Liz Bicknell
Communications Director
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
250.356.2862
250.213.3072 (cell)
About BCIC
The British Columbia Innovation Council (BCIC) advances innovation and commercialization of applied science and technology in partnership with government, industry and academia. By supporting all levels of education, BCIC is focused on developing talented British Columbians. Building a strong future for the knowledge economy is essential to the success of B.C.'s economy. BCIC is a Crown agency of the Province of British Columbia.
For more information about BCIC, visit www.bcic.ca
