Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Fuels from marine biomass

Journal Article · · Oceanus; (United States)
OSTI ID:5857582
Seaweed and kelp are being investigated as possible large-scale sources of marine biomass for energy. By suspending seaweed in water, instead of near the bottom where it usually grows, the seaweed cultures maintain themselves permanently in a nonreproductive, nonfruiting stage, thereby continually vegetating. Under highly idealized test conditions (vigorous aeration, rapid exchange of seawater, frequent harvests and nutrient-enriched), the red seaweed Gracilaria tikvahiae yielded 35 g dry weight per sq. m daily, equivalent to 51 dry tons per acre yearly (with 50% ash content). The prospect of extensive offshore farms for growing plants on floating trays or woven into ropes near the surface is being studied by means of the 50 m long Macrocystis pyrifera kelp on a modular ocean test farm consisting of a 9 ft. diameter buoy attached to radial arms holding the kelp plants nutrient-rich water is pumped from depths of 1,500 ft.
Research Organization:
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Mass.
OSTI ID:
5857582
Journal Information:
Oceanus; (United States), Journal Name: Oceanus; (United States) Vol. 22; ISSN OCEAA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English