SeaGas
Production of bio-methane from seaweed by anaerobic digestion.
Project leader
Dr Gary Caldwell
Dates
August 2015 - July 2018
Sponsors
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Partners
Queens University Belfast
Centre for Environment
Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
Centre for Process Innovation
Scottish Association for Marine Science
Description
SeaGas supports the rapid growth of anaerobic digestion (AD) in the UK. To provide both economic benefit to end users and the environmental benefits of reduced waste and renewable energy.
The project develops an AD process. It utilises an unexploited, non-food, sustainable resource in the UK, seaweed. Seaweed generates bio-methane in place of land biomass and produces a digestate suitable for use as fertiliser.
It develops a novel storage system for seaweed. This supports 12 month AD operation and counter seaweed variability.
The project is innovative in its provision of a scalable, industrial AD process for seaweed.
The UK implementation plan is unique. Directed by environmental and socio-economic assessment and economic modelling.
It facilitates uptake by AD end users. It initiates the building of a viable supply chain for farming and storage of seaweed. It will be the platform for further exploitation of seaweed in other applications.
Website: http://seagas.co.uk/