Will pond scum become the new oil?
source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/07/30/roadtrips.algae.fuel/index.html?iref=werecommend
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- DeliaTheArtist
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"Pond scum. The thought typically evokes images that leave most people cringing, but it may one day occupy an important role in the nation's energy supply.
Algae needs only sunlight, carbon dioxide, nutrients and water to grow.
Algae needs only sunlight, carbon dioxide, nutrients and water to grow.
The current fuel crunch, driven fundamentally by a rising global demand for oil, has spurred debate among consumers, political leaders, academics and entrepreneurs about plausible alternatives.
A good bit of the discussion has focused on biofuels, commonly defined as energy derived largely from plants and crops like corn, soybeans, switch grass among other sources.
"It's become obvious that the biofuels sector is much more viable now that the prices of oil are high," said Beth Ahner, an expert in biological and environmental engineering at Cornell University.
Algae, thought of as pond scum by many people, is an intriguing biofuel prospect, some researchers and entrepreneurs say.
"There's no difference running algae than there is running any other biodiesel fuel," says McCloy. "I've noticed very little difference in any of the biofuels that I run in this car or in my 1984 diesel Mercedes that I run at home."
McCloy says he gets a little lower gas mileage occasionally, but biofuel generally runs smoother than diesel. See McCloy's road trip blog
Algae does not need arable land, grows quickly and according to experts has low impact on the environment. Questions remain, however, about the cost of producing algae on a scale large enough to act as a practical alternative to oil for the nation's energy needs."
Algae needs only sunlight, carbon dioxide, nutrients and water to grow.
Algae needs only sunlight, carbon dioxide, nutrients and water to grow.
The current fuel crunch, driven fundamentally by a rising global demand for oil, has spurred debate among consumers, political leaders, academics and entrepreneurs about plausible alternatives.
A good bit of the discussion has focused on biofuels, commonly defined as energy derived largely from plants and crops like corn, soybeans, switch grass among other sources.
"It's become obvious that the biofuels sector is much more viable now that the prices of oil are high," said Beth Ahner, an expert in biological and environmental engineering at Cornell University.
Algae, thought of as pond scum by many people, is an intriguing biofuel prospect, some researchers and entrepreneurs say.
"There's no difference running algae than there is running any other biodiesel fuel," says McCloy. "I've noticed very little difference in any of the biofuels that I run in this car or in my 1984 diesel Mercedes that I run at home."
McCloy says he gets a little lower gas mileage occasionally, but biofuel generally runs smoother than diesel. See McCloy's road trip blog
Algae does not need arable land, grows quickly and according to experts has low impact on the environment. Questions remain, however, about the cost of producing algae on a scale large enough to act as a practical alternative to oil for the nation's energy needs."
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