Thinking really green, Denso to farm algae for oil

NAGOYA--Aiming to mass-produce fuel from photosynthesis by around 2020, auto parts maker Denso Corp. will cultivate algae at a new facility and harvest the resulting hydrocarbon oil.

Denso has been conducting research on the use of algae for oil production since 2008.

The company plans to produce an initial 400 liters of oil a year from the microalga Pseudochoricystis ellipsoidea, which produces hydrocarbons. The algae are only five microns long, or five-millionth of a meter, but are capable of generating more energy per size than oil palms and other plants used for biofuels. They also absorb more carbon dioxide.

The company hopes to lower production costs to 200 yen ($2.3) per liter, down from about 600 yen.

Five water tanks are installed in the 350-square-meter outdoor facility, which was completed at Denso's Zenmyo Plant in Nishio, Aichi Prefecture.

Denso will use the carbon dioxide and heat discharges from its factories to help the algae grow.