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Story: Knowledge-based industries

Algae biofuel

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Algae biofuel

Wild algae is gathered from sewage ponds in Marlborough and treated to produce sustainable motor fuel. In this world-first biotechnology project the Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation aims to produce commercial quantities of fuel from algae grown in waste water such as effluent ponds. The company has since joined forces with a US refinery to produce algae-based jet aircraft fuel.

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Mark Derby, Knowledge-based industries – Biotechnology, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/21757/algae-biofuel (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Mark Derby, published 1 March 2010.