|
Prof. Watanabe’s research on producing oil from microalgae became more important since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami occurred last March. The nation is trying its best to reduce the electricity consumption and prevent the power shortage caused by the devastated Fukushima power plant. Therefore, any substitute of energy source will raise a new hope for the entire country.
Microalgae are unicellular organisms, and certain species of microalgae have been cultivated for making health supplements. In addition to the rich nutritional contents, microalgae can also make oil from sunlight and carbon dioxide. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, the oil yield capacity per acre of microalgae is much greater than those oilseed crops such as corn, soybean, and sunflower. Furthermore, microalgae have potential for culture in areas like desert lands and oceans where are usually not suitable for crop production. Japanese research team and the NREL both agreed that making biofuels from those agricultural crops would lead to an increase in future food price; thus, oil production from microalgae is apparently more efficient than their terrestrial cousins.
|
|
