IHI Hopes to Start Commercial Production of Biofuel More Efficiently

IHI advances on biofuel commercial production by mastering volume production of Algae

Compiled from ZUU online 2015/5/22 14:20

IHI (Tokyo Stock Exchange code: 7013) announced on May 22 that the heavy-industrial manufacturer  succeeded in large-size culture of algae for biofuel production.  Algae has been taken attention for its potentiality to be converted to jet fuel and other companies such Euglena that tries to extract fuel from euglena and JX Holdings are moving forward to commercial production of biofuel, making the market more vibrant and competitive.

IHI revealed its volume culture technology has been developed jointly with Kobe National University and Chitose Laboratory as a commissioned program entrusted by NEDO (New Energy Development Organization) under the title of ‘Strategic Future Biomass energy Utilization Technology Development.’  According to the company press release, they succeeded in volume culture of Botryococcus braunii that generates hydrocarbon oil as alternative fuel with higher growth rate.

As for development of new types of biofuel, it has been said to keep culturing of those algae including euglena that generate oily stuff while ensuring continuous and stable manners by conditions of their culture. Euglena company, for example, is reportedly devising more active photonic synthesis by blowing carbon dioxide into a culture pool.

IHI announced that the joint research group has succeeded in stable culture of algae with only photonic synthesis  at its test facility centering on a culture pond as wide as 1,500 square meters in Kagoshima, southern part of Japan. As the previous culture called for sugar as nutrition of algae, they might have moved forward in R&D.

IHI will further move  ahead to lower fuel production cost by improvement of the whole processes  for anticipation of doing business by this technology in other countries, according to the statement.　

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