Motorists may soon be driving cars powered by kelp and algae after scientists in Scotland and Ireland won European funding today for a new research project to create "mari-fuels" - the marine equivalent to plant-based biofuels.
I thought this looks to be a potentially good idea.
With the caveat, that it's going to be done in a sustainable manner (ie the 'farmed' kelp option, rather than over exploiting the 'wild' kelp).
If it can also be used to clean up the waste generated by salmon farms, that would seem to be a 'Brucie Bonus'.
It it worth jeopardising the delicate eco-balance of our shorelines for what will inevitably turn out to be a very small yield in energy? I don't think so.
I know these guys, rest assured they are very big on ecology so I would not be surprised if they are planning all the relevant impact studies. Certainly the idea is more kelp-farming than relying on natural kelp stocks.
Aurora wrote:It it worth jeopardising the delicate eco-balance of our shorelines for what will inevitably turn out to be a very small yield in energy? I don't think so.
Have you seen how fast kelp grows? Won't be small. As long as its managed, properly, will not be an problem. Be a good earner for coastal
communities, which need it.
goslow wrote:I know these guys, rest assured they are very big on ecology so I would not be surprised if they are planning all the relevant impact studies. Certainly the idea is more kelp-farming than relying on natural kelp stocks.
That's good. Till some big b***er like Shell/Esso buys them out.
Not content with growing biofuels on valuable agricultural land they now want to **** up the delicate nature of our shorelines. Grrrrrrrr!
