THIRD GENERATION BIOFUEL PRODUCTION FROM THE

SEAWEEDS: AN INDIAN PERSPECTIVES

SATHISH CHENNURI, KRANTHI REKHA MUKKERI AND KARAN KUMAR RAMTEKE

ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai

ABSTRACT
The progressive decline of fossil fuels reserves and their associated harmful effects such as global
warming and the demand for energy is expected to increase over the following years to come which
results in searching for new sustainable environmentally friendly fuels which are known as biofuels.
3rd generation biofuels sources such as seaweeds do not compete with food crops and don’t require
agrarian land for cultivation and numerous species grow in brackish or salt water maintaining a
strategic distance from rivalry for land and fresh water required for food production. Seaweeds are
considered as among the most potentially noteworthy future sources of sustainable biofuels. In
India, seaweed grows in large quantities along the coast of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and in specific
locales of Lakshadweep, and the Andaman and Nicobar islands. There are likewise exceptionally
rich seaweed diversity along the coast lines of Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Goa, Karwar, Varkala, Vizhinjam,
Pulicat, and Chilka. There are different methods by which fuel can be extracted (i) direct combustion,
(ii) pyrolysis, (iii) gasification (conventional), (iv) trans-esterification of seaweed oils to biodiesel
(v) hydrothermal treatments, (vi) fermentation to bioethanol, (vii) ABE fermentation to biobutanol and
(viii) anaerobic digestion. India, with a tremendous coastline can be a resourceful and renewable
source for seaweed cultivation and biofuel generation. Certain fundamental factors, such as use of
potential species, its cultivation method, yield per hectare, time and method of harvest, energy yield,
and cost of fuel production need to be carefully researched for successful foundation of commercial
biofuel reactor.

KEYWORDS: Third generation biofuel, Macro algae, Seaweed farming, India.

INTRODUCTION
As indicated by the report published by World Energy Outlook, 94% of India’s crude oil demand
would be met by imports by 2030. Also, our demand for energy is expected to increase at an

J. Aqua Trop. Vol. 34, No. (1-2) 2019, Pages 17-25

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Corresponding Author E-mail: kkramteke@gmail.com
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DOI:-http://doi.org/10.32381/JAT.2019.34.1-2.2