SEAWEEDS FOR BIOFUELS
SEAWEEDS FOR BIOFUELS
Is it possible that the fuel of the future is growing quietly under the sea? Many scientists and entrepreneurs around the world think so. And yet, despite being one of the world’s leading seaweed producers, the Philippines is still stuck exporting raw seaweeds and carrageenan, while we continue to import crude oil.
Let us start with India, which 15 years ago began exploring the use of seaweeds as a biofuel. Four graduates from IIT Madras founded a company called Sea6 Energy in 2010. Their idea was simple but bold: farm seaweeds in deep waters, harvest them with specialized machines, and turn them into biocrude. Unlike corn or sugarcane, seaweeds don’t need land, fertilizers, or freshwater. They grow fast, they yield plenty of biomass, and they can be harvested several times a year. That’s why India is betting on them as a possible replacement for imported fossil fuels.
Contrast that with our situation here. The Philippines has a seaweed industry roadmap that mentions biofuels as a “future application,” but the Department of Agriculture and its fisheries bureau (DA-BFAR) are still the lead agencies. With due respect, seaweeds for fuel should be under the Department of Energy (DOE), not agriculture. We don’t expect DA to manage our oil refineries, so why should they take the lead on a potential energy revolution?
Right now, our seaweed sector is structured around exports. About 13% is sold as raw dried seaweed, while 22% is exported as carrageenan (a product where we are among the world’s leaders), and another 65% as processed chips. Cebu and Manila host most of our carrageenan factories. The U.S., China, Spain, and Belgium buy from us. In fact, DA has even allocated ₱1 billion for labs, dryers, and training to expand carrageenan output. That’s good for trade, but it still locks us into a low-value chain when the real future lies in energy.
Globally, other countries are not waiting. France is experimenting with seaweed-based biomethane and biohydrogen. Japan is using Ulva and Laminaria for ethanol. South Korea is integrating seaweed biofuels into its “blue economy” strategy. Even Norway and China are investing heavily. In the Caribbean, researchers are turning invasive Sargassum blooms into fuel.
So here is my question: why is the Philippines—an archipelago with one of the longest coastlines in the world—not leading this race? Is it because we are comfortable being mere suppliers of raw materials, while other nations develop high-value products? Are we afraid of taking risks on new technologies? Or are we trapped by bureaucratic boundaries where DA and DOE don’t know how to collaborate?
The Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP) is already pushing innovation in bioplastics and pharmaceuticals. Why not biofuels? We have 85,000 hectares of unutilized seaweed farming areas, especially in BARMM, Zamboanga, and MIMAROPA. If India can farm in deep waters, why can’t we? If Malaysia has already identified over 400 species with biofuel potential, why aren’t we mapping our own?
The science is clear. Seaweeds can be converted into biofuels through anaerobic digestion (biogas), fermentation (ethanol, butanol), and thermochemical processes (biocrude, biodiesel). They are rich in carbohydrates like mannitol and alginate, which are ideal for bioenergy. The real challenges are cost, scalability, and environmental safeguards. But these are engineering problems, not impossibilities.
In fact, this fits perfectly with our national needs. The Philippines imports most of its crude oil, exposing us to price shocks. We also need to decarbonize if we are serious about climate goals. Seaweed biofuels could help us reduce imports, strengthen coastal livelihoods, and position us as a pioneer in the global blue economy.
It is not too late to start. But someone has to take the lead, and it cannot just be DA-BFAR. This is energy policy, not just aquaculture. The DOE, DOST, and private investors should step in. Pilot projects can be launched in Mindanao, where seaweed farming is already strong. Universities like UP-MSI and Mindanao State University can join forces with SIAP and local cooperatives. Imagine a “seaweed energy corridor” along the Sulu archipelago powering coastal towns with locally grown biofuel.
Let me end with a simple reminder. The Philippines once led in coconut biodiesel before we lost our edge to Brazil and Indonesia. Are we going to repeat the same mistake with seaweeds? The ocean may well hold our next big energy source. But only if we act now—before we are once again left behind, selling raw materials while others sell us back the finished product.
🔬 Technologies Used
Anaerobic digestion → Biomethane
Dark fermentation → Biohydrogen
Thermochemical conversion → Biocrude and biodiesel
Fermentation → Bioethanol and biobutanol
These countries are leveraging seaweed’s fast growth, high sugar content, and low input requirements to develop low-carbon, marine-based energy systems.
Would you like a comparative framework showing how the Philippines could adapt these models for barangay-level energy sovereignty?
🌍 No country has fully commercialized seaweed-based biofuels yet, but several are approaching pre-commercial or pilot-scale deployment, especially for niche applications like biogas, biocrude, and bioethanol.
🔎 Status Snapshot
⚠️ Why Full Commercialization Is Elusive
High production costs compared to fossil fuels and land-based biofuels
Seasonal variability and species-specific challenges
Lack of integrated value chains from farming to fuel conversion
Policy gaps in marine biomass energy regulation
That said, seaweed biofuels are gaining traction as part of blue carbon, energy sovereignty, and circular economy strategies.
Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, senseneres.blogspot.com
01-03-2026
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