NUIG SCIENTIST EXPLORING SEAWEED BIOFUEL

Date Published: 23-Jun-2008

Ireland could become a key player in the production of biofuel from seaweed. That's according to the manager of the Irish Seaweed Centre at NUI Galway, Dr Stefan Kraan. Seaweed has long been investigated as a potential source of bioethanol, which is usually made from crops such as sugar cane and corn but there are technological barriers to commercially harvesting it from seaweed. Ireland currently boasts 16 commercially useful seaweed species.