Prof. Clive Landis, Campus Principal of The University of the West Indies Cave Hill, Barbados, on Tuesday announced a new project to produce biofuel using Sargassum seaweed and wastewater from rum factories.
Speaking at the signing of a two-year memorandum of Uunderstanding (MOU) between The UWI and CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, the principal said the university will be embarking on two projects through the MOU.
“The first is what we call the Rum and Sargassum Project, led by one of our lecturers in the Faculty of Science and Technology, Dr Legena Henry, who specializes in renewable energy. With this project, we are hoping to have one-quarter of the vehicles in Barbados powered by a natural fuel made up of Sargassum seaweed and wastewater produced by our rum factories. The sargassum seaweed will act as an accelerant, and we will also be using manure from Blackbelly sheep for bio-methane in this fuel, which will be similar to compressed natural gas,” he explained.
“We have received a grant from the Blue Chip Foundation in Trinidad and Tobago, who will be converting two vehicles to run on this fuel within the next few weeks.”
He said the university will be doing more to foster a climate of entrepreneurship and innovation among its students, faculty and staff.
