Irish scientists probe seaweed power

Seaweed has long been investigated as a potential source of bioethanol, which is typically made from crops such as sugar cane and corn, but technological barriers remain to its commercial use.

With rich seaweed resources, “Ireland is poised to become an important player in the next generation of biofuel production,” said Stefan Kraan, head of the Irish Seaweed Centre at the National University of Ireland in Galway.

“Algae do not have the negative image of terrestrial biomass resources, which are said to be responsible for higher food prices, impacting on water use, biodiversity and destruction of rain forest,” he said.

Physorg