Algae Biodiesel Refinery to be Constructed in Massachusetts
Well this is certainly good news. Instead of yet another ethanol refinery popping up, an algae biodiesel plant will be constructed in Massachusetts.
The Cape Cod Algae Biorefinery will be located on five acres on the Massachusetts Military Reservation in Bourne. Felix said the location is ideal for the project, because of its on-site wastewater treatment plant, which will provide an excellent source of nutrients for the algae, and Massachusetts Military Reservation’s close proximity to the Cape Cod Canal, which would provide a convenient source of seawater and a renewable thermal energy source for algal growth and temperature control.
Plankton Power hopes to generate approximately 1 MMgy of biodiesel when the pilot facility is up and running, which may be enough fuel to meet Cape Cod’s current biodiesel needs.
Wastewater treatment? Seawater instead of freshwater? One million gallons of fuel produced per year (1 MMgy)? Sounds like a winning combination to me.
To be able to clean water in the process of creating fuel while using abundant seawater instead of freshwater are two very important features of algae biofuel production that highlight its benefits over other alternative fuels.
