Algae signs carbon capture biofuels contract with Macquarie

Jul 10 - Datamonitor Energy/UtilitiesWire

Algae.Tec Ltd, a renewable energy company, has signed a contract with Macquarie Generation, an electricity generation company, to site an algae carbon capture and biofuels production facility at the 2640MW Bayswater coal-fired power station near Sydney.

Russell Skelton, Macquarie Generation CEO and managing director, said: "Our agreement with Algae.Tec is another example of MacGen finding creative ways to improve our business and improve our environmental performance. Its new technology is improving a traditional power plant. Carbon is now our single largest cost. This technology should reduce our carbon output, reduce our carbon bill, and at the same time improve our bottom line."

Bayswater uses approximately 7.5 million tons of coal per year and delivers power to eastern Australia, from South Australia to Northern Queensland. It is the center-piece of the New South Wales energy system. The algae will feed on 'waste' carbon dioxide emitted by the power station and the resulting algal oil is converted to biodiesel and hydrogenated to grade A jet fuel.

Roger Stroud, Algae.Tec executive chairman, said: "At a time when all the petroleum refining capacity is closing down in NSW, this is the beginning of an era of renewable fuel which can be 'grown' in the State and can substitute imported petroleum products. With this announcement today, NSW stands out as a global leader in the adoption of renewable technologies that makes our existing power generation infrastructure cleaner and produces valuable fuel oil."

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