lars brunner (2011)

Scottish Marine Institute,Oban, ArgyllPA37 1QAScotland, UK

Lars BrunnerSAMS


Scottish Seaweed Research Association survey from 1947 -1955Aerial photography + grab sampling100,000+ quadrats, 8500 km of coastlineDensity ton/hectare range from 48 (Orkney) to 7 (Fraserburgh) estimate of total standing stock ~10 million tonsLikely to be underestimate SCUBA analysis shows 2-4 times qty of grab sample


Large brown macroalgae, or kelp, grow very rapidly and can be fermented to produce alcohols (ethanol, butanol etc.)

Both macroalgal and microalgal biomass can also be anaerobically digested (AD) to produce methaneThey lack lignin and have a low cellulose

content, they are a better material for complete biological degradation to methane than land plants such as forestry and agricultural wastes.


Loch Beag, Moidart

Droppers deployed on mussel farm lines

Species outplanted;

Saccharina latissima

Saccorhiza polyschides

Alaria esculenta

Practical work


CT room (or room with constant 13-16 °C range)UV filtered, filtration graded seawaterString, coils and binsThe seed stock!


A mixture of threaded (shown here) and hooped droppers


Tiny plants 2mm seeded to string

3 months

Each plant at harvest,

6 8 months later, 1- 2m

Seaweed culture now established in Scotland


As an IMTA tool?

Can create harvestable crop in right location in 6 months possibility for multiple yearly cropDiffuse nutrient absorptionCan be used as feedstock for biofuel, or as market develops for high value pharmaceutical and food crops


Seaweed to biofuel: not a new idea, but time to revisit the technology

As long ago as 1974, Americans looked for a renewable source of methane (natural gas) from the seas

Their data showed that high levels of methane could be readily produced from seaweed

At the time offshore farms were a failure due to engineering issues

Since then inshore seaweed aquaculture has developed globally on a massive scale


Algal energy

Anaerobic digestion

Instant use or storable

energy source

Bench trials at SAMS to analyse

production

Algal energy


Why not wild harvest for our macrolagae?

This shallow water resource is essential habitat, home to a wide biodiversity of flora and fauna and nursery grounds for many important species.

Norway harvests about 170kt/pa but there are questions over environmental impact and sustainability.

Little control over product quality (by-catch, rubbish, age structure)

In terms of making a contribution to fuels: wild harvest is likely to be unsustainable and insignificant


Seaweed farms to meet the electrical needs (4,000kwh) of

10% of Scottish homes

Seaweed farms to meet the domestic gas requirements of

Mull

Figures from A. Hughes, see also DECC Carbon offsetting 2050 Project report

Area of Mull (87,500 ha)

How much would we have to grow to make a valuable contribution in terms of UK energy needs and helping reach the 2050 carbon offsetting

targets?


Large Scale Biogas & Bioethanol Production

To produce biofuel from macroalgae :improve performance of bothmarine bacteria for methanisation and bioethanol productionlatest AD technologyEffects of kelp harvesting ecosystems and biofuel production on the terrestrial environment

Key objective improvements in crop yield.Selective breedingExpansion of existing culture banksStrain selection and maintenance facilities similar for terrestrial plants and animals


MacrocystiscultureMultiple longline growth sites in both North and South of countryHigh levels of research fundingCommercial farms in placeProduction targets set

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lars brunner (2011)

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