Description

Derivation of an energy source from the movement of the tides is the reason for considering a lagoon to trap seawater in Swansea Bay. But while the professional engineers are investigating the possibility of that development, this student group has undertaken a study of the viability of developing biological sources of energy in this restricted environment. Having concluded that farming microalgae would not be economic, they focused on macroalgae, selecting Saccharina latissima as the best species to use. They investigated methods of farming and harvesting it and went on to research anaerobic digestion and build their own prototype anaerobic digester. Finally, they investigated potential markets for their fuel.

More from this issue

There is much more to science education than the requirements demanded by the examination curriculum. This article illustrates one example of an...

Jan 2017
Journal Article

Young Scientists Journal' is an online journal entirely produced by students aged 12 20. Started in one school in 2006 as a vehicle for...

Jan 2017
Journal Article

Through the development of clubs such as an engineering society and a space society, managed by sixth-form students themselves and structured to...

Jan 2017
Journal Article