Algae fuels successful biodiesel project

• Aurora Algae successfully completes demonstration production facility at Karratha
• Facility partly funded through $2million grant from State Govt's LEED fund
• Waste CO2, degraded land, sea water and sunshine grow algae to produce biodiesel

The State Government today announced the successful completion of Aurora Algae's demonstration algae production facility in Karratha - a step towards using algae as a future biodiesel source in Western Australia.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion said the facility, supported by a $2million grant from the Low Emissions Energy Development (LEED) fund, produced 40 times as much protein per unit area as soya beans, while using 100 times less fresh water.

"Aurora Algae's project has multiple benefits - it does not compete with food production as some biofuel sources do and has beneficial by-products that help offset biofuel production costs," Mr Marmion said.

"The completion of the project underlines the importance of the LEED fund in supporting the development of new, low emissions technologies and renewable energy supplies to reduce the State's carbon footprint."

Energy Minister Peter Collier said the ultimate benefits of the LEED fund flowed from wider adoption of the technologies it supported.

"Algae farming is well suited to WA's dry, sunny climate, regional Carbon Dioxide (CO2) sources and liquid fuel requirements," he said.

"The technology provides the environmental benefits of sequestering CO2, while producing renewable fuel."

Fact File

• Aurora Algae's pilot production facility producing up to 12 tonnes of algal biomass per month, in six 4,000sqm ponds
• Pilot plant has enabled development of cost-effective and resource-efficient methods for growing, harvesting, extracting and producing algae-derived products such as biofuel, omega-3 oils and protein-rich animal feed
• Commercial production at new facility anticipated to begin in mid-2014

Minister's office  - 6552 6800

Aurora Algae Karratha facility from the air.