MBD Energy is piloting the capture and recycling of carbon dioxide and other emissions into algal biomass for animal feed, human food supplements, fertilisers and biofuels.

Drawing on trials at James Cook University in Townsville, MBD Energy has confirmed it can consistently select an optimum strain of algae (local to any given industrial emissions site, therefore posing no threat to local biodiversity) and propagate that strain from a single cell to large-scale production (with the algae typically doubling in mass every 24-48 hours).

Meanwhile, in other award news, the Australian team at CAT Projects has received the 2011 Sir William Hudson Award for Engineering Excellence for its development of the Bushlight solar project in west Bengal and western Orissa, India.

Engineers Australia said that the Bushlight India Project, selected from 50 finalists, demonstrated the integration of Australian engineering and community organisations to use renewable energy for the provision of electricity to remote villages in India.