Guangzhou China Feb. 11, 2011 - Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), affiliated to Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was reported to go well with its research project on the whole set of technology of microalgae-based biodiesel production on February 10, 2011. The project was expected to enter the pilot-scale stage by 2012 and to be industrialized on the basis of ten-thousand tonnes annual capacity by 2015, which is five years prior to the original plan.
In fact, IHB started this research project in 2009, cooperating with China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Corp.). IHB was responsible for R&D work on microalgae breeding and bioreactor designing; while Sinopec Corp was in charge of R&D work on microalgae collection, microalgae-oil extraction and microalgae-oil application.
Following the current researching progress, the production cost of microalgae-based biodiesel was expected to be cut down to USD952/t below in the coming three to five years. However, the current fossil-based diesel price is around USD1025/t.
Actually, microalgae is superior to many other oil-producing plants (palm, Jatropha and soybean) in many aspects. For example, microalgae grows in water without occupying any farmland, which will not arouse disputes about food crisis. Microalgae can be harvested in one week, while others need two months or above; and the productivity per unit area of microalgae can be over ten times compared with those of other oil-producing plants. Microalgae biodiesel production can also gain many other co-products as heath-care products and feed.
Source: CCM International