Sargassum, that annoying macroalgae washing up on the shores of your favorite beach just may now have a higher calling thanks to some innovative scientists in Barbados.
According to an article in the Antigua Observer newspaper, some crafty engineers have been able to take ordinary seaweed and turn it into a useful biofuel to power some automobiles on the island.
Fill ‘Er Up With Seaweed
A local tech startup recently joined forces with the University of West Indies to come up with a use of the seaweed which is plaguing the region’s coasts.
The new bio-compressed natural gas (CNG) uses a rum distillery wastewater and a sargassum-based biomethane to create the new fuel to power vehicles on the island of Barbados.
The fuel is expected to help the Caribbean island nation become a 100 percent renewable energy and carbon-neutral state by 2030.
According to the Barbados Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, the island has 150,000 fossil fuel vehicles and the innovation is an important first step in the island’s progress towards net-zero carbon emissions goals.
The tech startup and the university also gave credit to the Caribbean Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) for their support of the innovative research.
There is currently a test fuel station located at the Guinea Estate near four acres of land that represent the circular nature of the renewable fuel base.
More Future Plans For Sargassum
Professor Landis commented at a press conference about the new seaweed-based CNG that it is just a start for the university exploring additional innovative ways to leverage sargassum for other commercial purposes.
He said the university is also in the process of exploring uses of the island’s noxious macroalgae for potential products for pest control and even diabetes management.
Meanwhile, Minister Cummins also highlighted that the innovative vehicle fuel could also be used in other Caribbean islands beyond Barbados.
“This is a regional and global first-mover opportunity,” Minister Cummins said. “Barbados has pioneered a technology that can change the way the entire Caribbean treats transportation, and I want us to not take that for granted.”
Seaweed Powering The Future
Seaweed is currently being explored for other commercial uses as creative biologists and other scientists explore ways to smartly utilize the macroalgae that has been growing in mass on the beaches of the Caribbean.
For example, some are exploring its used as a cosmetic product with skin-enhancing features. Others are currently using it to enhance the tourist spa experience.
Currently, the solution is to remove the sargassum from beaches to improve the guest experience for travelers. The seaweed is stored somewhere to either be buried or where it can decompose naturally without the stench that offends most travelers.
Now more innovative uses are being explored for what is now considered a nuisance and waste disposal issue. Thanks to some innovative scientists, seaweed could be soon powering the taxi or ride share ride you take on your next Caribbean travel adventure.