PRODUCING DIESEL FUELS FROM SEAWEEDS

PRODUCING DIESEL FUELS FROM SEAWEEDS

What if the future of fuel lies not in the ground, but in the sea?

In 2010, four graduates from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras made a bold bet: that seaweed—an underwater plant often overlooked and underutilized—could power the next generation. Their company, Sea6 Energy, is now pioneering deep-sea farming technologies and converting harvested seaweed into biocrude—a potential alternative to fossil diesel. According to their founders, the goal is to make seaweed biofuel cost-competitive with traditional fuels. They are building large-scale marine farms and machines to grow, harvest, and process this fast-growing crop entirely offshore.

India’s experiment with seaweed-based energy is part of a growing global movement that sees this humble marine organism as a serious contender in the race to replace fossil fuels.

In Indonesia, the potential of seaweed as biofuel is not just theory—it’s part of national policy. As Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka emphasized, seaweed is among Indonesia’s most abundant bioenergy resources. The government is aiming to produce B50 biodiesel—a blend of 50% fossil diesel and 50% biofuel—and is exploring seaweed alongside palm oil to meet its ambitious renewable energy targets. The country estimates a staggering 57 gigawatts of untapped bioenergy potential.

Meanwhile, in the Caribbean, innovation is brewing with a unique twist. In Barbados, researchers have been converting sargassum seaweed—an invasive species that frequently clogs beaches—into biogas. By mixing it with wastewater from local rum distilleries and sheep dung, the mixture produces a flammable, usable gas. According to early reports, at least four vehicles have already been modified to run on this bio-compressed natural gas, with plans to scale the solution across the island. It’s a double win: clean energy and coastal cleanup.

Malaysia, too, has joined the race. With more than 400 identified species of macroalgae, including Ulva, Sargassum, and Gracilaria, the country is now experimenting with offshore mariculture systems to grow seaweed specifically for fuel. These seaweeds are rich in lipids and carbohydrates, essential ingredients for producing both biodiesel and bioethanol. A prototype farm near Bidong Island is already in operation.

Even small nations like Belize are exploring the potential of sargassum biofuels. Faced with mounting environmental damage from massive seaweed blooms, Belizean authorities are considering bioconversion as a sustainable disposal method and energy alternative.

So, what makes seaweed such a promising green energy source?

First, seaweed doesn’t require land, freshwater, or fertilizers—a major advantage over biofuel crops like corn or soy. It grows rapidly in ocean waters and can be cultivated year-round in suitable climates. According to a study by The Climate Foundation, large-scale seaweed farming could remove up to 100 gigatons of CO₂ from the atmosphere over 12 years, making it a valuable ally in the fight against climate change.

Second, seaweed is extremely versatile. Depending on the species and process used, it can be converted into biodiesel, bioethanol, and biogas. And unlike many agricultural crops, seaweed farming has the potential to enhance marine ecosystems, support biodiversity, and even improve water quality.

But despite its potential, the road to mainstream adoption is not without hurdles.

As energy researchers point out, high production costs remain a major challenge. From cultivation to harvesting to processing, seaweed biofuels still require significant capital and technological innovation to become commercially viable. Conversion techniques—like fermentation and pretreatment processes—are improving but need further refinement for large-scale deployment.

There are also policy and infrastructure gaps. Most countries have yet to build the supply chains, regulatory frameworks, and incentives necessary to support seaweed-based energy systems. Unlike wind or solar, marine biomass has not yet received the same level of global attention or investment.

Still, the outlook is hopeful. Experts are envisioning coastal biorefineries—facilities that use seaweed, seawater, and marine microbes to produce a range of energy and chemical products sustainably. Southeast Asia, already a leader in seaweed production for food and cosmetics, is uniquely positioned to lead this energy transition.

Real-world innovation is already unfolding. From Indonesia’s biodiesel goals to Barbados’ sargassum-powered taxis, the future of marine bioenergy is no longer confined to laboratories and pilot studies—it’s arriving in the form of policies, prototypes, and public engagement.

To paraphrase a recent report from Global Seaweed Coalition, the oceans are not just frontiers for exploration—they are the future of sustainable energy. And if the momentum continues, we might one day fill up our tanks not at the expense of the earth, but in partnership with the sea.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

09-27-2025