Algae fuel grand energy dream

Indian and Canadian scientists are jointly researching means to use algae to generate oil to replenish the diminishing oil reserves. But in doing so, they plan to increase the algae volumes, which would cut down greenhouse gases.

The project involves researchers from the Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and those from Canada-based Manitoba University.
But the first step, which CES researchers are involved in, is to identify which algae secrete more oil, a tough task given that there are over 20,000 known algae species. Simultaneously, there is a process on to develop a method to genetically manipulate the identified algae to ensure they secrete more oil, according to TV Ramachandra, senior CES faculty member who is heading the IISc team in this venture.

The genetic manipulation would be done by the Manitoba University team. At the IISc lab, researchers are culturing algae to identify those yielding maximum oil. And for continuous secretion and milking of oil, Gordon has suggested genetic manipulation.
The researchers plan to exploit algae for oil as these just sink to the sea-bed and are consumed by fish. Once on the sea-beds, they deposit oil and shells into the sediments.