First test of tropical seaweed farming for biofuels production begins off Puerto Rico

[rangerrebew]

First test of tropical seaweed farming for biofuels production begins off Puerto Rico
 
Charles Rotter
 
 

WOODS HOLE, Mass. and La Parguera, P.R. – A team of researchers led by Loretta Roberson of the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, has installed the first seaweed farm in Puerto Rico and U.S. tropical waters.

The research array furthers the design and development of a system for offshore cultivation of tropical seaweeds to support large-scale production of biomass for biofuels and other valuable bioproducts.

“Puerto Rico has stable warm temperatures and ample sunlight year-round, as well as a wide range of exposure to prevailing winds and waves. These conditions make its southern coastline an ideal test bed for exploring how environmental conditions influence the biological, physiological, and chemical properties of cultivated macroalgae, as well as the impact of seaweed farms on the surrounding environment,” says Roberson, the lead principal investigator on this research effort. Additional farms are being tested in Florida and Belize to assess scalability.

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2021/05/14/first-test-of-tropical-seaweed-farming-for-biofuels-production-begins-off-puerto-rico/

[Joe Wooten]

Nothing on how much federal subsidy for this project......

[thackney]

Nothing on how much federal subsidy for this project......

In the article:

MBL received funding for this research from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) competitive Macroalgae Research Inspiring Novel Energy Resources (MARINER) program. The MARINER program seeks to develop the tools to enable the United States to become a leading producer of macroalgae, helping to improve U.S. energy security and economic competitiveness.

A little searching and we find:

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/MARINER_ProgramOverview_FINAL.pdf

...Phase 1 (Design Phase): The Design Phase will consist of design and techno-economic assessment including life cycle assessment of a complete macroalgae cultivation and harvesting ocean-farm system. ARPA-E anticipates that the Design Phase will be completed within a budget of $500,000...

Future Phases no listed cost estimates.

[Joe Wooten]

Nothing on how much federal subsidy for this project......

What I meant by that is the article linked to stated no costs to the taxpayers, as if it were privately funded through the agencies listed. Any article on a government program should include what taxpayer funds are being spent on it.

[thackney]

What I meant by that is the article linked to stated no costs to the taxpayers, as if it were privately funded through the agencies listed. Any article on a government program should include what taxpayer funds are being spent on it.

But it is green so money magically flows from unicorn butts to pay anything that is needed, wanted, whatever...

[Sled Dog]

So raping the oceans is a good alternative to having all the soy-boys on bicycles?

[IsailedawayfromFR]

I wonder how high the fish kill will be when this dream becomes reality?

The schemes greenies have of course have consequences in the real world and I have heard nothing about this one.