The first Seaweed to Biofuels Workshop, co organised by Innovation Norway, SINTEF, AB-SIG and Biosciences KTN, took place in Trondheim, Norway on 25th/26th September.
“…….the best and most interesting workshop that I have attended in recent years…..” (Tim Atack, Viking Fish Farms).
Background:
In order to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, we need renewable feedstocks – seaweed represents one such alternative biomass source that could make a difference on a global scale. Norway and UK would like to take a lead and make the North Sea basin a hot spot for innovation in this area.
The event:
Following a delicious lunch the and a warm welcome from SINTEF and Innovation Norway, session 1 of the workshop began with an outline of the ‘Case for Marine Energy in Europe: and the Crown Estates response in the UK’. This excellent talk presented the case for seaweed to biofuel and outlined the deployment of the first commercial macro algae production pilot facility in the UK. This was followed by Industry perspectives from Statoil and an outline of the regulatory landscape in the UK & Norway by Tim Atack, Viking Fish Farms.
During the following sessions the multiple challenges involved in commercial seaweed to biofuel operations, including an outline of novel technologies for cultivation, harvesting and processing of the algal biomass were discussed.
Day 2 of the event brought presentations from the existing seaweed industry, including Seaweed Energy Solutions, CPI and FMC Biopolymers, and outlined the opportunities for seaweed as a feedstock for fuel and high value non-energy products such as food and cosmetics ingredients. This was followed by an excursion the Norwegian Seaweed Technology Centre hosted by SINTEF.
The event attracted delegates from around Europe and provided a platform for new collaborations to be formed which could see new projects being submitted for the recently announced TechnologytheStrategy Board and Innovation Norway High Value Chemical Manufacturs using Industrial Biotechnology competition.
All presentations from the event can be accessed by CLICKING HERE.
UK/Norway Collaboration
“Seaweed to biofuel” was the third bilateral UK-Norway workshop in 2012 and builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Technology Strategy Board and Innovation Norway in February 2011.
The event marked the beginning of what is sure to be a very positive relationship between the AB-SIG and Innovation Norway and we hope there will be many more successful events in the future and UK/Norway project collaborations going forward.
If you would like any further information about the UK/Norway partnership or are interested in collaborating with British businesses or research institutes please contact Marit S. Valseth – marva[at]innovationnorway[dot]no
Written by Joanne MacDonald
Edited by Marit S.Valseth
