Advertise
Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that its research initiative, 'Development of High-Density Microalgal Biofuel', has been selected for the FY2026 Programme to Develop and Promote the Commercialisation of Energy Conservation Technologies. This program is spearheaded by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) to realize a decarbonised society. Under this framework, Mazda will leverage its extensive research findings on microalgae-derived biofuels, focusing on their potential to produce lipids efficiently in confined environments without competing with food supplies or driving deforestation.
The project is designed to encompass the entire production cycle, ranging from cultivation techniques to lipid extraction processes. In a strategic partnership with Idemitsu Kosan, Mazda will further investigate the refining of these extracted lipids into high-quality biodiesel fuel. The company's roadmap aims for the practical deployment of these technologies, with a specific objective to implement biodiesel as the standard factory-fill fuel for every Mazda diesel vehicle manufactured at its Japanese plants by the early 2030s.
Commenting on the selection by the NEDO programme, Takeji Kojima, Director and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Mazda, stated: 'Through the widespread adoption of biodiesel fuel (HVO) derived from microalgae, we aim to contribute to greater domestic energy self-sufficiency, sustainable regional development, and enhanced industrial competitiveness.'
Source: Biofuels International Magazine