Prospects for the use of macro-algae for fuel in Ireland and the UK: An overview of marine management issues

Abstract

a b s t r a c tCompeting demand for land is driving biofuel and bioenergy research in various directions including macro-algae (seaweed). This paper reviews the main issues for the marine environment of cultivating and harvesting UK and Irish seaweed for biofuels/bioenergy, informed by stakeholder interviews. These showed stakeholders were sceptical of an offshore cultivation industry developing but generally considered inshore cultivation possible, while noting various practical obstacles and conditions. Views on expansion of seaweed harvesting were more divided, with research scientists being relatively cautious.

UK Macro-Algae Biofuels: A Strategic Management Review and Future Research Agenda

“…Economic viability at the most basic level for the organisation will be determined by the technological development and commercialisation of the product itself and as commercialisation is not currently close it may be a while before any certainty about this element can be sought. One of the only investigations into the economic viability of macro-algae biofuels [16] investigated the Irish and UK marine management issues associated with macro-algae cultivation and found that there was scepticism of the economic viability of farming seaweed in offshore locations but supported the development of inshore cultivation. In addition, issues have been raised by some seaweed farmers who suggest that the prices of seaweed may be too low to generate worthwhile profit [54].…”

“…It has also been highlighted that even if local species of seaweed are used to avoid invasion of non-native species, the cultivation of seaweed at a large level might provide a source for new mutants [15]. Finally, it has also been suggested that the potential environmental impacts of transportation between cultivation and processing sites and post-processing needs to be taken into account in any environmental assessment [16].…”

“…This is even though some academics strongly support the view that commercially farmed seaweed could be developed into a sustainable biofuel feedstock. This would be capable of supplying a biofuel market, particularly in countries such as the UK which have extensive coastlines [14,16,17]. However, a considerable number of uncertainties surrounding all aspects of seaweed production for biofuels still exist [14,[16][17][18].…”

“…This would be capable of supplying a biofuel market, particularly in countries such as the UK which have extensive coastlines [14,16,17]. However, a considerable number of uncertainties surrounding all aspects of seaweed production for biofuels still exist [14,[16][17][18]. Indeed, experts remain uncertain about the optimal methods of cultivation, harvesting, storing and processing of seaweed for the specific purpose of producing biofuels [14].…”

“…With the exception of some limited research [16], discussing the marine policy implications for seaweed biofuels in Ireland and the UK, there are few detailed investigations into the potential socio-economic, environmental and political issues associated with what could be a hugely beneficial technology [16,21]. This is particularly strange considering that there are a large number of government and grey-literature studies, as well as increasing academic interest and papers which have investigated the impacts of seaweed cultivation in areas where seaweed cultivation and farming has been popular for the food and cosmetic industries [22].…”