Nowadays the efforts have been intensified in order to find alternative fuels to replace petroleum products and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One of the main problems with biodiesel is to have available sufficient raw material for production. A solution to this problem seems to be the cultivation of microalgae that are found in seawater or wastewater. The microalgae have a higher yield for biodiesel production in relation to energy crops.
To achieve the objectives of the ENPI MED ALGAE project a very strong partnership was established which is coordinated by the Agricultural Research Institute of Cyprus in collaboration with the Cyprus Energy Agency. The project "Production of biofuels from microalgae in selected Mediterranean Countries" is funded by the Programme ENPI European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) ‐ Mediterranean Sea Basin Joint Operational Programme. The consortium is consisted of 12 organisations: research organizations, academic institutions, energy agencies, private organizations from 6 countries: Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Lebanon and Egypt.
This is a new technology project which can contribute to the goals of the EU strategy on "Climate change and energy." The methodology includes all stages in the production of biodiesel from microalgae: sampling of seawater or freshwater, the selection of microalgae, species identification, cultivation of microalgae, harvesting and extraction of biodiesel and determination of properties of biodiesel produced in accordance with Standard EN14214 and its testing. Five pilots will be established in each participating country: Cyprus, Italy, Malta, Lebanon and Egypt.
Furthermore, the project aims to collect all available data on microalgae in the participating countries (literature review and studies), to conduct a study on the available state‐of‐the‐art technologies and also to provide feasibility studies, after implementation of research activities.
The project will create a new value chain for the production of renewable liquid fuels based on microalgae, aiming transport and valuable products. The goal will be achieved through local and regional collaboration between research institutions, enterprises (SMEs) and public and private sectors.
On 19‐20 January 2012 the kick off meeting of the MED ALGAE project was held in Nicosia, Cyprus and launching this technologically important project that will provide valuable data for future of biofuel production.
For more information please contact Dr. Polycarpos Polycarpou (project coordinator), Agricultural Research Institute, Tel +357 22403117or email
[email protected] or Mrs Anthi Charalambous, Director of the Cyprus Energy Agency, Tel. +357 22667726 or email:
[email protected] .