Replenish Energy Enterprises, a spin-off from Bio-Lípidos of Puerto Rico that applies an innovative microalgae fuel program to reduce the island’s dependence on imported oil for power generation, has won the Cleantech Open Expo’s Global Ideas Competition.
Replenish Energy is a process that cultures and harvests microalgae in saltwater ponds for the production of pure vegetable oil, a biofuel that can be used directly in nearby electric power plants. The process is a combination of low-tech organic agriculture coupled with advanced microbiological science that creates a biofuel that can yield both power and food — the business will also enable sustainable farming of fish and seafood – while at the same time lowering dependence on fossil-fuel oil for island power and reducing air pollution.