The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s (NMMU’s) Coalgae technology, converting waste coal dust into high-quality clean coal that could then, through further processing, be transformed into biofuel, would undergo a full feasibility study early this year, the university has announced.

Coalgae formed a part of the university’s Microalgae to Energy project that was being funded by the Department of Science and Technology’s (DST’s) Biofuels Demonstration programme, aimed at promoting late-generation biofuels in support of the National Biofuels Strategy.

The technology was developed by NMMU over the past three years and was demonstrated for the first time in January. It had already undergone a prefeasibility engineering study, resulting in a robust and cost-effective design for Coalgae production on a semi- and full commercial scale, the university said.

NMMU stated that researchers at its institute of chemical technology, InnoVenton, had found that the microalgae could be combined with coal and charcoal, and that it could act as a binder for fine coal.

“If you mix coal dust and algae biomass, the algae [collects] onto the surface of the coal and binds the dust together. The result is a coal-algae composite, for which they have coined the name Coalgae,” InnoVenton’s Professor Ben Zeelie explained.

Coalgae composites could then be used as a substitute in applications that require coal, or it could be further processed through various additional technologies, such as pyrolysis, to turn it into a biofossil crude oil blend that could be processed into a variety of fuels, including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel and heavy fuel oil, the university explained.

“Carbon sequestration, the upgrading of low-grade coal and the production of clean water are among the advantages of the production of Coalgae, which, along with the production of the biocrude oil, have presented commercial opportunities,” NMMU said.

The production of Coalgae also had the substantial advantage of eliminating the requirement for two separate process steps for the production of biofuel blends, as both the fossil-fuel-based raw material and the renewable raw material were processed in a single process.

This technology would also meet the mandatory blending criteria set out in the Draft Position Paper on the South African Biofuels Regulatory Framework, which was published for public comment on January 15.

The document stated that, from October 1, 2015, all transport fuels had to be a blend, with biofuels making up at least 2% of the blend.

“Coalgae exceeds this target,” the DST said.

Meanwhile, the framework document also said, an appropriate Biofuels Pricing Framework had been created to financially incentivise the production of biofuels.

“The delay in implementation [of biofuel projects in South Africa] appears to be as a result of [these] projects not being financially attractive at the prevailing feedstock and crude oil/liquid fuel prices.

“Accordingly, the publication of the Draft Position Paper seeks to address this issue by financially incentivising the production of biofuels in South Africa through the establishment of a Biofuels Pricing Framework developed by the Department of Energy, together with National Treasury and other economic sector departments,” Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr projects and infrastructure senior associate Emma Dempster said.

She noted that the Draft Position Paper sought to stimulate the South African biofuels industry by making provision for efficient investments in bioethanol and biodiesel manufacturing facilities.

The Draft Position Paper also sought to guarantee a return on investment, while also guaranteeing the levels at which eligible biofuels manufacturing entities would be subsidised.

Further, the paper also sought to regulate the monthly biofuels transfer pricing to compensate the petroleum industry for the investment in infrastructure upgrades, Dempster said.

“Among [the paper’s] positive attributes is the creation of a sustainable biofuels industry through the introduction of a regulatory framework, guaranteeing the uptake by licensed petroleum manufacturers of biofuel products supplied by licensed biofuel manu facturers, as well as the introduction of a Biofuels Pricing Mechanism which is intended to stimulate the secondary economy.

“This will mean the creation of jobs, assis tance with energy security by creating a more energy secure environment by means of a local fuel production industry, and the production of cleaner fuels. All these developments will be beneficial to South Africa as a whole,” she said.