Canary Islands' Project: Biofuel from Banana Waste

In Spain, researchers at the Canary Islands Technological Institute (ITC) are carrying out a project that seeks to optimize the process of converting banana waste into second generation biofuels.

The Canary Islands have huge banana surpluses that are not sold and these waste bananas end up in landfills. The availability of potential feedstock from waste banana stems and fruits gave reason for the ITC researchers to pursue the banana-to-biofuel project. Now they are studying how to optimize the production process particularly the proportion of raw materials introduced to capture the gas for eventual conversion into second generation biofuel. Although the project is still in the very early stage, the researchers look forward to helping reduce waste from the region's banana industry while providing renewable energy to the islands.