12 May 2011

Karratha emerges as 'Saudi Arabia' of algal fuel

The boss of what will be the world's biggest algal biofuel operation has described Karratha as the "Saudi Arabia of algal fuels" as he unveiled the project in the Pilbara.

Aurora Algae chief executive Greg Bafalis said the company had searched the globe to find the best site and stumbled across Karratha after a chance meeting with Austrade.
"We started with meteorological data, we came in (to Karratha) and thought it was perfect - it had everything we needed," the California-based executive said.

"It was the highest solar radiation on the planet, a great CO{-2} source from the natural gas business that's here and great land for us to expand on."
The 8ha demonstration site, built with up to $2 million in government grants, has six half-hectare production ponds already producing more than 15 tonnes a month of algal biomass.

"We produce roughly 30 tonnes a year out of each acre of algae - so you go could grow up to 10 tonnes of fuel a year out of each acre," Mr Bafalis said.
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1 comment:

  1. Anonymous10.11.11

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