Algae Becoming the New Biofuel of Choice
Filed Under (non-food biofuels) by cheryl on 06-10-2008
Tagged Under : algae, algae as fuel source, algae ethanol, algae for fuel, biofuel, non-food biofuels
Why Algae?
algae pond
Algae are mostly made up of lipids (fats), which mean it can produce more oil than corn and other oilseed crops. It grows faster on less land and helps the environment by removing carbon from the air and nitrogen from wastewater. These microscopic powerhouses are some of the fastest growing plants and grow year round. Algae can be found in freshwater, saltwater, and wastewater and can even grow in the desert. Through the process of photosynthesis, algae take carbon dioxide and sunlight and transform it into energy to produce more algae. It is able to double its weight a couple times a day. There are hundreds of thousands of species of algae, and different types of algae ethanol could be used for different types of vehicles. One type could be used for trucks, another for cars, while another could be used for jet fuel, depending on the qualities of the particular algae strain.
Algae Energy Research
algae bioreactor
Some alternative fuel projects are using open ponds to grow algae, but issues of the surface area, the perfect amount of sunlight, temperature, and being exposed to other species are some factors that affect algae production. Instead, some companies are using bioreactors, a closed system where the algae are given carbon dioxide which allows the algae to grow faster. Placing them near power plants and factories will help the reactors get the carbon dioxide they need for the algae to grow and at the same time reduce the emission of the greenhouse gas. As innovative as this may sound, it is not a new idea. In the 1950s, scientists entertained the thought of using algae for fuel. Between 1978 to 1996 the U.S. Department of Energy began research on using algae as a fuel source but felt that it would be an economically unstable investment and not as efficient as fossil fuels.
Using algae as a fuel source is still in its experimental phase, but in a couple of years, algae could possibly be the source of fuel for all modes of transportation.
Come back to visit www.Duelingfuels.com often for the most current alternative fuel information anywhere on the internet.
[...] 80’s. This research shortly ended when gas prices fell and there was a greater interest in using biodiesel as an alternative fuel where extensive vehicle changes were not [...]