US-based Algenol has signed a memorandum of understanding MOU South China’s Fujian Zhongyuan New Energy Company (ZYNE) to develop projects throughout Southern China, utilising carbon emissions to create renewable fuels.

The goal of the two companies’ cooperation is to provide solutions for accessing clean air, cleaning water, and providing sustainable fuels, the three major challenge China is facing today.

Under the framework of the US – China Climate Change Working Group, there is a global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Algenol’s patented Direct to Ethanol technology process utilises industrial CO 2 emissions directly from power plants as a feedstock for proprietary algae to produce the four most important renewable transportation fuels (ethanol, gas, diesel and jet).

Algenol CEO Paul Woods says the company is eager to bring its technology to China.

‘We all share one atmosphere. Clean air has no borders. We know that our process can remove health-damaging pollution straight from its source and turn it into renewable fuel and clean water,’ Woods says.

Algenol and ZYNE will identify and evaluate the utilisation of CO 2 emissions from industrial sources, such as power plants, steel mills, and cement and chemical factories, in the Fujian province and other parts of Southern China.

Once the CO 2 sources are identified, Algenol’s technology solution of carbon-to-fuel conversion will be implemented at the target sites.

As an added benefit, the primary by-product of the conversion process is clean water, which is valuable to many communities in Southern China.

At the beginning of 2015, the US Department of Commerce and the US Department of Energy invited Algenol to join a Presidential Trade Mission to China.

Algenol’s technology was mentioned as a solution for reducing China’s carbon emission pollution in the mission.