Biofuel from seaweed

A small eco-project in Porsanger in Northern Norway could turn out to be quite an innovative biofuel production facility.

SEAWEED. A key factor in the underwater ecosystem. (Photo: Holmfjord)

SEAWEED. A key factor in the underwater ecosystem. (Photo: Holmfjord)

 

Fuel producers all over the world search for sustainable raw materials suitable for biofuel production. The small Norwegian company Holmfjord AS could by accident have found a suitable source under water.

Extreme growth rate

As the amount of fish in the ocean outside Porsanger decreases, the municipality at first wanted to restore the fish food supply. Sea urchins had been feeding on local seaweed, and as a test project Holmfjord looked for ways to restore seaweed. The seaweed production potential turned out to be formidable with an extreme growth rate within small areas with no need for fertilisers.

Ethanol and fertiliser

Seaweed is an excellent source for ethanol production and leftovers from the fuel production may be used as fertilisers. Holmfjord is working with the Norwegian research institutes SINTEF, NOFIMA, NIVA and Bioforsk Nord on this project.

Norwegian geography suitable

Japan, Canada and Ireland are trying to produce  5 billion litres pf bioethanol from seaweed. Japan also has pilots for producing biogas from seaweed, but the Porsanger project's main advantage is a vast area suitable for seaweed production.

Holmfjord


About Holmfjord

Holmfjord AS is a small, innovative company situated in the northernmost part of Norway. The company is established in a previous fish-processing plant.
For further information: www.holmfjord.no

 

Article produced by Jorunn Gran 23.03.2009

The Holmfjord seaweed project was presented at a zero emissions conference in Oslo in 2008.
Download presentation (in Norwegian) from Zero.no

Related Articles

SINTEF

The SINTEF Group is the largest independent research organisation in Scandinavia.

Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research - CIENS

Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research is a strategic research collaboration between independent research institutes and the University of Oslo.