The final report card for the EnAlgae project has been published and is now available online. Focusing on products and impact, the report summarises the work undertaken during the lifetime of the project and highlights the legacies that will be left behind thanks to EnAlgae. “One of the major ideas enthusiastically considered years ago was the potential role of algae in energy generation,” says the project’s principle investigator, Prof Kevin Flynn from Swansea University, in the card’s introduction. “With the barrel cost of oil almost halving, and revised estimates for the realistic potential for algal biofuels coming from the EnAlgae project, it now looks highly unlikely that algae can contribute significantly to Europe’s need for sustainable energy. “This could be taken in a negative light, but I have always considered “energetic”algae to refer not so much to energy but to their great potential for commercial exploitation. Many technologies required for algal biofuels are required for the reliable mass production of algae for other sectors, such as food, nutraceuticals, and so on. “The need for food, alone, is just as important to Europe as is energy, and algae contain valuable dietary components for humans.”
The report also outlines the best practice developed for both micro and macro algal cultivation, the political environment and regulatory framework in which the fledgling algae industry exists in North West Europe, and the decision support toolset and Algal Information Network that have been set up to try and help move this industry forward. “We’re looking forward to discussing the report card in more detail with the delegates who’ll attend our close out conference,” said project coordinator Dr Shaun Richardson. “I hope people will find it useful and use it as a reference guide moving forward.”
EnAlgae close out conference: Algae based industry – A future leading sector in a European bio-based economy
There is still time to register for the EnAlgae close out conference, a free event which will take place on September 29th at Espace Banca Monte dei Paschi, Av. d’Auderghem 22-28, 1040 Brussels.The day starts with registration at 9.30, followed by a welcoming address and talks from individual project partners who will introduce you to the EnAlgae project and its key deliverables. The morning sessions will be closed with an expert panel debate on the three themes of science and technologies, commercialization and also policy and regulation.
After lunch, breakout discussions will explore more closely the main themes from EnAlgae project, the lessons learnt and future needs. This will provide delegates with an opportunity to share their views on the future of the algae sector in Europe. Finally, the last session will focus on future needs and mechanisms to support the algae community, including details of the newly formed Algal Information Network being led by the European Biomass Industry Association – EUBIA. The event will close with a networking reception. Team members from the EnAlgae project will be on-hand throughout the day to discuss their findings with delegates and provide hands-on demonstrations of some of the toolkits developed by the project. You can follow the event via twitter and #EnAlgaeclose or @EnAlgae_NWE.
Browse the final agenda and register here.
The EnAlgae project is led by Swansea University and funded by the European Union under the INTERREG IVB North West Europe programme. EnAlgae unites experts and observers from 7 EU member states to determine the potential benefits of algae as a future sustainable energy source.
