WSC to host conference on use of microalgae as biodiesel

A conference on the use of microalgae as a potential biofuel will be held this week, concluding a three-year project in the use of alternative fuel sources.

Having identified the potential for Malta to use microalgae as a source of biofuels, the Malta Intelligent Energy Management Agency (MIEMA) and the Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit (FTZ) have for the past three years been participating in an ENPI-CBC MED project called Med-Algae: Production of biofuels from microalgae in selected Mediterranean Countries.

The project, led by the Agricultural Research Institute of Cyprus, brought together 12 partners from around the Mediterranean basin, representing research and academic institutions, energy agencies and private organizations. The countries involved are Cyprus, Italy, Greece, Malta, Egypt and Lebanon.

A pilot site has been set up in each of the participating countries (except Greece) and the relative studies have been carried out to determine the feasibility of such projects. It is expected that the project will create a new value chain for the production of renewable liquid fuels based on microalgae.

On Wednesday 3 June, FTZ and MIEMA, in collaboration with the Water Services Corporation, will present the achievements and results of the MedAlgae project. The conference will take place at the Wignacourt Hall Auditorium, Water Services Headquarters, Luqa. This will be followed by a site visit to Bulebel, where the attendees will have the opportunity to visit the pilot plant.

Registration to attend the final conference is free of charge, but interested persons are requested to kindly send an e-mail to [email protected] and/or [email protected].