The control aof the carbon dioxide atmospheric loading, the target of the Kyoto Protocol, is not yet implemented for the resistence to introdure cuts in the use of fossil fuels. The capture of carbon dioxide and its storage in natural sites or its utilization may bring in a new perspective in the use of fossil fuels. Marine biomass represents a form of renewable energy more effective than the terrestyrial for the higher photosynthetic activity of algae with respect to superior plants. To date micro-algae have been used as source of biofuel. Our Project (funded by EU-BRITE, CNR.Agenda 2000 and FIRB-MIUR 2002) aims at establishing the potential of macroalgae as source of biofuel. A number of selected macroalgae are aunder investigation comparing natural with pond grown samples in order to assess the influence of parameters like light, temperature, CO2 pressure, nutrients on the amount of biofuel produced. Different extraction techniques have been developed and a LCA study and a dedicated software allow to assess the mass and energy balance per each colture.
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