Environment and Conservation
January 15, 2010
Research Project Will Explore Using Fish Oil as Fuel
A Memorial University research project will investigate
the possibility of converting marine waste to an
environmentally friendly biofuel. With assistance of
$81,000 from the Newfoundland and Labrador Green Fund,
Dr. Kelly Hawboldt, Associate Professor with the Faculty
of Engineering and Applied Science, will determine the
feasibility of using fish oil as a blend with
petroleum-based fuel for powering fish plants and marine
vessels.
"In her research, Dr. Hawboldt will fill a gap in the
current knowledge relating to the industrial process
needed to transform the raw material available to a
useful biofuel," said the Honourable Charlene Johnson,
Minister of Environment and Conservation. "The research
will determine if it is feasible to blend fish
oil-derived biofuel with existing fuels to meet the
energy requirements of fish plants or vessels by using
small-scale processing systems. This project will
complement the considerable amount of research and
commercial application that fuels of this type have
generated over the past decade."
Biofuels are fuels derived from plant material and
residues such as agricultural crops, waste from animal
processing, or by-products from agricultural or forestry
initiatives. In cases where an engine is flexible in
terms of fuel quality and a lower quality biofuel oil
can be used, the oil from the processing of vegetables
and animals can be directly used for power generation
and heating. There are lower emissions of greenhouse
gases (GHGs) and other toxins throughout the production,
use and disposal of these biofuels.
"There is significant potential in this province for
animal and, specifically, marine waste to be converted
to biofuels," said Dr. Hawboldt. "This research will go
towards making biofuels more feasible in the province.
The cost and transportation of fuel is challenging for
many small communities and companies, and the onsite
generation of an alternative fuel is both economically
and environmentally advantageous."
While the total reductions of GHGs will depend on the
type of conversion technology used, as well as the
species of fish processed, 13-74 per cent reductions are
possible. Furthermore, all other regulated emissions
such as suphur dioxide and particulate matter can
potentially decrease by 10 to 50 per cent with biofuel
use.
"The outcome of this project has the potential to
dramatically decrease fuel costs in remote areas for
both plants and fishing vessels, a significant factor
for rural parts of our province," said Minister Johnson.
"Due to the geographical distribution of the raw
material sources, some of the most attractive options
for fish biofuel in the province are for on-site
generation, as heating oil for on-site boilers or in the
surrounding community, or as a diesel blend for local
marine vessels."
The other members of Dr. Hawboldt's research team are:
Dr. Robert Helleur, Professor of Chemistry, Memorial
University; Dr. Michael Pegg, Professor of Chemical
Engineering and Head of the Department of Process
Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University;
and Heather Manuel, Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood
Development, Marine Institute.
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Media contacts:
Melony O'Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca |
Dr. Kelly Hawboldt
Associate Professor
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Memorial University of Newfoundland
709-737-8382
khawboldt@mun.ca |
2010 01 15
10:30 a.m. |