francene--blog. Year 2013
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July 1st

7/1/2013

 
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Seaweed may prove to be a viable future fuel. Scientists are farming seaweed next to the tiny north-western UK island of Kerrera as part of an international project to produce seaweed-based biofuel.

This farm is one of three trials in the inshore waters off the coasts of Norway, Scotland and Ireland, which are growing sugar kelp on textile mats suspended in the water. The experimental harvest will reveal which textile produces the best carpet of seaweed.

Some experts suggest that producing fuel from seaweed is too expensive to make it viable as a business, but the researchers say they could have commercial-scale farms within a decade. Selling the seaweed for other purposes, as a food or a cosmetic ingredient for example, could increase the value of the crop.

There are many good recipes using seaweed but I've never seen it in a local supermarket—apart from Nori, the Japanese paper-thin wafer for use as a sushi wrap.

Scientists continue the hunt for energy sources that are safer, cleaner alternatives to fossil fuel. Recycled cooking oil is already collected for diesel. However, an ever-increasing amount of valuable farmland is being used to produce bioethanol, a source of transportation fuel. And while land-bound sources are renewable, economists and ecologists fear that diverting crops to produce fuel will limit food resources and drive up costs.

World hunger comes to mind. Why grow fuel when people need food?

The Tel Aviv University's Department of Zoology and the new Renewable Energy Center studied the seas for a renewable energy source that doesn't endanger natural habitats, biodiversity, or human food sources. Marine macroalgae—common seaweed—can be grown more quickly than land-based crops and harvested as fuel without sacrificing usable land.


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Not only can seaweed be grown unobtrusively along coastlines, they can also clear the water of excessive nutrients—caused by human waste or aquaculture—which disturb the marine environment.

This makes sense. Use a natural resource for a natural byproduct.

The researchers believe that producing biofuel from seaweed-based sources could even solve problems that already exist within the marine environment. Many coastal regions, including the Red Sea in the south of Israel, have suffered from pollution caused by human waste and fish farming, which leads to excessive amounts of nutrients and detrimental algae, ultimately harming endangered coral reefs.

Seaweed brings back happy memories of youth for me—swimming in churning surf, jumping over drifts cast up on the sand, and the distinctive smell which we associate with the coastline.


Sophie Bowns link
6/30/2013 09:28:58 pm

Seaweed? Who would have thought it? It just proves that sometimes the solution to a problem might be right under our noses! Fingers crossed that it all goes to plan.

Francene Stanley link
6/30/2013 09:56:45 pm

I love these natural solutions to world problems. All the better that the use of seaweed willhave other benefits too.

Renata link
6/30/2013 10:17:58 pm

Wow, that's an interesting article - I had no idea about the facts you shared. Thanks - I learned something new today :)

Amy link
6/30/2013 10:32:16 pm

What do you know, Francene--seaweed? That would be amazing if they could make fuel from this renewable resource! Fascinating!

Don Purdum link
7/1/2013 12:17:28 am

I have read this somewhere a few times in the past years or so. Fascinating!!!! Great post and I look forward to reading many more.

Kristi link
7/1/2013 12:57:35 am

Seaweed is a new one for me. I knew that it cleaned the water in our oceans, and is an invaluable part of the ecosystem. To use it for fuel, as well, sounds like a win-win.

Suerae Stein link
7/1/2013 07:36:46 am

How exciting it would be if they could come up with something that doesn't actually harm something else. Everything is so interconnected that it's difficult to see the impact sometimes until it's too late. Let's hope that seaweed will be only positive! It's funny, seaweed always gave me the creeps as a kid in the ocean... it always seemed to want to wrap itself around my legs!

AMummysLife link
7/1/2013 08:33:08 am

I have to admit that seaweed is a new one for me also. I never thought such a thing could be used for fuel!

Alana link
7/1/2013 11:30:39 am

I am amazed. This almost sounds too good to be true. What we Americans call a "real win-win situation".

Phoebe link
7/1/2013 05:15:56 pm

I agree on the "win win" situation. Let's hope these experiments prove that this can be done on a commercially viable basis otherwise no matter how good for the planet it is, it won't happen. Fascinating stuff, I look forward to reading more of your writing over the next month (and more...)

Peta link
7/1/2013 10:15:15 pm

I find it so frustrating when discoveries like this are disregarded due to cost. I have to wonder whether they have looked into the real cost of it or are baulking at the initial set up costs.
How often are these types of things ignored or covered up so that big business can make money? I'd love to see us use a more natural fuel source that wont involve mining and drilling.

Francene Stanley link
7/1/2013 11:07:55 pm

I'm with you there, Peta. This discovery is too good to ignore. When will governmants turn away from the revenue they make from industries and go with the sensible, sustainable alternative?


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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