A Moroccan researcher who is developing a more efficient method for producing biodiesel from microalgae will soon call Western Australia home thanks to a prestigious Forrest Fellowship.

Dr Houda Ennaceri will work with Dr Navid Moheimani at Murdoch’s University’s Algae Research and Development Centre over the next three years to investigate how the semimetal graphene can be used as a catalyst in the biodiesel production process.

The conventional way of biodiesel production from microalgae starts with algae dewatering, which requires considerable energy, and Dr Ennaceri believes her new technique has immense potential for lowering the cost and waste for the process.

WA a top location for solar tech

Dr Ennaceri said Western Australia was recognised internationally as one of the best global locations for solar-based energies.

“In order to overcome today’s drastic depletion of fossil fuels and mitigate the global warming risks, finding sustainable options and new energy scenarios is one of the top-most research priorities,” she said.

“I think there is a great potential in the Australian algae, which can produce carbon-neutral biofuels when grown using sunlight, water and carbon dioxide.

Dr Ennaceri said she was honoured to receive the Forrest Fellowship.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for me to develop new technologies for biodiesel production combining biological and chemical catalytic processes,” she said.

“It is a chance to work with great minds, get insights into high quality research, and build a wider scientific network for future international collaborations.”

The Forrest Research Foundation aims to attract the brightest minds to conduct research in Western Australia by providing Fellowships to outstanding early career researchers to undertake high quality research in Western Australia.

Dr Ennaceri is currently based at the Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering in Germany, and will begin her fellowship in 2020.