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Algae: Slimy New Fuel Source |
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Written by Martin Kho
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Friday, 27 February 2009 09:28 |
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Page views: 893 |
With the ongoing race to find alternative energy sources, especially during last year’s oil price balloon, scientists may have found one of the most vital energy sources we can ever have: algae.
 Algae, first of all, grow all over the world, unlike crops such as corn. That means no more food versus fuel crises since there will no longer dedication of huge amounts of farmlands solely for biofuel crop production. Under optimal conditions, algae can be grown in massive amounts that it would seem almost limitless.
And do you know that half of the composition of algae is lipid oil? This is the oil whose utility has been tested for years, and if successful, would yield a fuel that burns cleaner and more efficiently than petroleum.
But what makes algae so special and exciting?
First of all, one of the most important characteristics of algae is that all it needs to grow properly are water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide. That would reduce the need for things such as feeds and other expenses.
So during the biodiesel production process, algae consume carbon dioxide. Through photosynthesis, algae convert all the carbon dioxide they absorb. For this reason, biodiesel manufacturers are building plants close to energy manufacturing plants that produce lots of carbon dioxide. Simply put, their need for carbon dioxide reduces the pollution.
What about the leftovers after production? The leftovers produce useful byproducts that can be used as fertilizer and feedstock without depleting other food sources.
Perhaps the most exciting fact about algae is that biodiesel makers claim that they’ll be able to produce more than 100,000 gallons of algae oil per acre every year depending on three variables: type of algae, the way the algae is grown, and the method of oil extraction. With this in mind, the 140 billion gallon estimate of biofuel demand can be grown in just 95 million acres of land, compared to the billions of acres needed for other biomass.
Currently, South Korea is already contributing to the study, with its development in using freshwater algae to produce ethanol. With these developments, our cars might not be our competitor in the consumption of food such as our beloved corn.
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