A Japanese research team led by Professor Hasunuma Tomohisa and Academic Researcher Kato Yuichi, both from the Kobe University Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation have unlocked the key to turning algae into oil by showing the mechanism behind oil synthesis within microalgae cells.

Due to increased awareness, people all over the world are now trying to replace fossil fuels that pollute the environment with natural and renewable sources of energy.Research has been conducted successfully to convert plants or plant based materials (Biomass) into fuel. There is approximately 10 times more amount of biomass on earth than the energy we consume. 

Half of this biomass are present on the ocean floor and by harnessing these ocean based microalgae , oil can be produced without using up arable land and drinking water.

Microalgae can be harvested faster than land based biomasses as they only need light, water, carbon dioxide and a small amount of minerals. Their cells divide very quickly, so they spread very fast and they can be harvested all year round, thus offering a more stable energy supply.

Many species of algae are capable of producing large amounts of oil (lipids), but this is the first time that researchers have been able to study and capture the metabolic changes occurring on a molecular level when lipids are produced in algae cells.

 This discovery is important as more biofuel can be produced by improving methods of algae cultivation. Based on these findings, the team will continue looking for ways to increase sustainable oil production by developing more efficient cultivation methods and through genetic engineering.