VOA常速英语2014--Researchers Test Algae Biofuel in Hong Kong 研究人员在香港测试藻类生物燃料（在线收听）

Researchers Test Algae Biofuel in Hong Kong 研究人员在香港测试藻类生物燃料

Scientists in Hong Kong are testing the use of micro algae to clean water waste and produce fuel.

目前香港的科学家正在测试微海藻在净化废水和生产燃料方面的应用

The technology is still too expensive to be broadly developed, but researchers are asking for the government's support in protecting homegrown biofuel against cheaper, foreign competition.

这种技术太过昂贵还没能得到广泛的推广，但是研究者正在请求政府保护本土的生物燃料以免受更便宜的外国产品的竞争

Environmental scientist Ho Kin-Chung from the Open University of Hong Kong says the process of turning algae into energy uses the intrinsic qualities of the plant.

环境科学家霍金春是来自香港公开大学的教授，他说把海藻转化成能源的过程利用的是这种植物的内在特点

“Algae contains a high quantity of oil and that amount effectively extracted can be refined into very good gasoline, as well as biodiesel and that would be economically very useful,” he said.

“海藻含有大量的石油，这些石油若能得到有效地提取，就可以被精炼成高质量的汽油。这将会带来很高的经济效益。”他说

For decades, scientists have been looking into biofuels, which use plants as an energy source, as an alternative to petroleum-based fuel.

几十年来，科学家一直在研究生物燃料，这是一种把植物用作能源，作为石油燃料的替代品。

Despite the huge potential, there is some debate about the impact certain types of biofuel have on land and water resources.

尽管拥有巨大的潜力，但是关于某些类型的生物燃料对土地和水资源的影响仍存在争议

Algae is seen as an attractive choice because it is easy to cultivate, doesn't require much land and can be grown in sea water without using agriculture and drinking water.

海藻被视为一种很有吸引力的选择是因为很容易种植，不需要太多的土地，只需在海水中生长不需要农业和饮用用水

Ho says the technology is solid, but it is not yet cost effective. In the market, he says, algae biofuel has to compete with traditional fuels like petroleum or natural gas, which are 30 to 40 percent cheaper.

他说这项科技是可靠的，但是性价比还不是很高。在市场上，他说，海藻生物燃料必须同汽油和天然气这样的传传统燃料展开竞争，而传统燃料要便宜30%—40%。

“We have to consider how to reduce costs, but if we are able to couple the fuel with the sewage treatment we can make it more attractive,” Ho said.

“我们必须考虑如何降低成本，但是如果我们能够把燃料和废水处理的价值结合起来，这将使其更有吸引力。”

Algae feeds on nitrogen and phosphorous, nutrients which are in excess and need to be removed from waste water. In March, Ho plans tol apply for a $1.3 million grant from the government for a pilot scheme at a water waste treatment plant in Hong Kong.

海藻是靠氮和磷生长的，这两种养料是过剩的，也是需要从废水中清楚的。3月份，霍打算向政府申请1.3亿美元的资金，来用于在香港废水处理场开展试点计划。

“Algae is a good idea, but they have a long way to go," said Steve Choi, executive director of Dynamic Progress International, one of the first companies in Hong Kong to commercialize biofuels. "Also they need to change the genes, and you need mass production, in order to cut down the costs. Initially the product would be very expensive."

“海藻是一个好想法，但是还有很长的路要走。”史蒂文·蔡宝奇，他是“动力发展国际”的执行主任，这是香港一家将生物燃料商业化的公司。“还需要改变海藻的基因，为了节约成本还需要大规模生产。一开始这种产品可能会很昂贵。”

Dynamic Progress International has been making biodiesel from used cooking oil. At the moment, the company is testing energy-efficient stoves for the Hong Kong and Japanese market.

“动力发展国际”从使用过的食用油中制取生物燃料。这个公司正在测试一种将投放到香港和日本市场的节能炉灶。”

“Hong Kong can really help," Choi said. "It is a financial city so it is easy to raise money and it is transparent, but we need the support of the Hong Kong government, not just for the research, but a comprehensive program, funding, build a reputation, test the product, all this needs to be part of the program.”

“香港会带来帮助的。”蔡宝奇说，“香港是一座金融城市，所以在这里很容易筹集资金，这里也是公开透明的，但是我们需要香港政府的支持，不仅是在研究方面而是综合的项目方面，包括集资和测试产品，这些都是这个项目的一部分。”

With more than 200 million liters of fuel consumed every day, Choi says, the Hong Kong government should be the one to test local biofuels in its day-to-day operations.

香港每天消费2亿升的燃料，蔡宝奇说，香港政府应当在每天的运行中测试本地的生物燃料。