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June 2009
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5th June 2009 - In France the first site for the production of bio-fuels from algaes
The first pilot site for industrial-size third-generation bio-fuels has been opened a few days ago in France. The bio-fuel will be produced from algae in Vigeant, in Poitou-Charentes region led by former French presidential candidate Royal Se'gole'ne. The plant is the fruit of collaboration between Se'che' Environnement, a specialized company in the treatment and storage of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, the company owned by the region Valagro Carbone Renouvelable and the Center of Studies and Development of Algae (Ceva).
The cultivation of algae occurs in many basins of water from 3 to 10 meters long and 50 centimetres deep. Currently there are six basins which occupy an area of 100 square meters. But should be created soon new basins to reach a production area of about one hectare. The investment so far is 200 thousand euros, of which 50 thousand have been allocated by the Poitou-Charentes, but the region has announced the launch of another pilot units for the production of ethanol from waste textiles, a system patented by Valagro whose launch is expected for the next year in Melle.
The algae are fed through the fermentation of household waste. ''With 100 pounds of algae - has ensured Patrice Sarrazin, coordinator of the project - we can produce only 15 litres of bio-fuel, but we are looking to rapidly increase the capacity of the site. We are only at the beginning of our work''. According to calculations, the site will initially produce 4500 litres per hectare per year to reach, once fully operational, to 20 thousand litres of ethanol per hectare.
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