OREANDA-NEWS. In a significant development aimed at boosting research in bio-fuels in the country on micro-algae technology, IndianOil and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) have jointly set up a Centre for Advanced Bio-Energy Research. This Centre is located on the campus of IndianOil's R&D Centre at Faridabad. Now, this IOC-DBT Centre for Advanced Bio-Energy Research has signed an agreement with LanzaTech, USA, to further develop IOC-DBT's micro-algae technology.

This agreement was signed recently in the august presence of Dr. Vijay Raghwan, Secretary, DBT; Mr. R S Butola, Chairman, IndianOil, Dr. RK Malhotra, Director (R&D), IndianOil; Mr. AMK Sinha, Director (Planning & Business Development), IndianOil; Dr. Renu Swarup, Adviser, DBT; by Dr. D K Tuli, Executive Director and Centre Coordinator, IOC-DBT Centre and Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO, LanzaTech. This agreement entails development of an acetate-to-lipids pathway, and evaluation of its suitability for LanzaTech's CO2 gas fermentation technology. This research will enable tying up algae growth to the waste gas fermentation process of producing ethanol. All the patents and commercial rights shall be vested in the IOC-DBT Centre.

Microalgae are microscopic organisms capable of producing lipids which can be easily converted to liquid bio-fuels and even aviation fuels. Acetates, a byproduct of several commercial process, is a cost effective source used for boosting algal growth. Realising the potential of microalgae to produce biofuels, extensive efforts are underway globally to improve the strains of microalgae and their growth profile. IndianOil, through its DBT-IOC Centre located at Faridabad, has been actively pursuing development of microalgae as a source of alternative fuel.

LanzaTech is a leading company with a rich technology portfolio for conversion of waste gases from steel mills into ethanol through bio-fermentation (this process also produces acetate).

The IOC-DBT Centre for Advanced Bio-Energy Research is jointly and equally funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India; and IndianOil. This Centre is committed to advanced bio-energy research addressing the second and third generation bio-fuels. LanzaTech, USA, is a technology company principally engaged in the development and commercialisation of bio-energy solutions.