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starwarsgeek171
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
564 Posts |
 Posted - 06/30/2008 : 13:18:19
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It seems as though it is possible to produce enough bio-fuel from one acre of pond algae in a year to run an automobile for 375,000 miles. Scientists are currently working on discovering which algae exhibit the fastest growth rates and best conversion ratios. Algae are extremely easy to grow/maintain, and they can even be harvested on a daily basis if needed. Finally, Factory emissions could be directly pumped into controlled "algae farms" to reduce carbon levels in the atmosphere. Pond scum, anyone?
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TenBears
Penny Hoarding Member
766 Posts |
 Posted - 06/30/2008 : 18:31:18
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quote:
Originally posted by starwarsgeek171
It seems as though it is possible to produce enough bio-fuel from one acre of pond algae in a year to run an automobile for 375,000 miles. Scientists are currently working on discovering which algae exhibit the fastest growth rates and best conversion ratios. Algae are extremely easy to grow/maintain, and they can even be harvested on a daily basis if needed. Finally, Factory emissions could be directly pumped into controlled "algae farms" to reduce carbon levels in the atmosphere. Pond scum, anyone?
Several companies are trying to figure the "algae" process out to make it commercially viable. They are not sharing information back and forth as the winner will patent its process and makes billions. There is a very good article in National Geographic about various bio-fuels, including ethanol produced from algae. Corn ethanal is all hype, and the only reason we are trying to make it, to my mind, are cornbelt lobbyists. It takes 1 gallon of petroleum to produce 1.3 gallons of corn ethanol. And, ethanol only burns at about .7 to .8 the efficiency of gasoline. So, producing corn ethanol is a worthless enterprise other than generally learning about how to make biofuels. Brazil has become energy independent off growing sugarcane and making sugarcane ethanol. The conversion for that, if I remember the Nat'l Geo. article, is one gallon of petroleum to 8 gallons of ethanol. Here is the golden egg for biofuels: It is estimated that one gallon of petroleum could be converted into 800 gallons of algae ethanol. If our private company scientists can figure this out, algae ethanol could make the US energy independent. |
"Rich," the Old Man said dreamily, "is not baying after what you can't have. Rich is having the time to do what you want to do. Rich is a little whiskey to drink and some food to eat and a roof over your head and a fish pole and a boat and a gun and a dollar for a box of shells. Rich is not owing any money to anybody, and not spending what you haven't got." Robert Ruark
there are too wild Indians...
there are too wild Indians...
there are too wild Indians...-----still taunted
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starwarsgeek171
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
564 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2008 : 12:25:26
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| Excellent follow-up info, TenBears. Thank you. |
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horgad
1000+ Penny Miser Member
1094 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2008 : 13:01:01
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And if that doesn't work, you can always just stay home and eat the algae.  |
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Gr33nday43
Penny Pincher Member
USA
247 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2008 : 00:31:53
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| Tenbears, that is very interesting! Any idea of the companies working on this? Just to think of it, the US being energy dependent because of algae! |
HoardCode0.1:M/1USKY:US1Cu35000
Buying and occasionally selling wheat pennies and copper pennies(Sell a lot of silver as well) PM me for more details.
http://coppercave.com
Founded by Natsb88! |
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starwarsgeek171
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
564 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2008 : 07:37:21
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| I would also be interested in specific company names. Sounds like a great investment opportunity! The algae farms may also be able to sell carbon credits. |
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TenBears
Penny Hoarding Member
766 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2008 : 09:50:52
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| Go to the National Geographic website and see if you can find the article. It should be within the last couple of issues. I don't know any company names off hand. |
"Rich," the Old Man said dreamily, "is not baying after what you can't have. Rich is having the time to do what you want to do. Rich is a little whiskey to drink and some food to eat and a roof over your head and a fish pole and a boat and a gun and a dollar for a box of shells. Rich is not owing any money to anybody, and not spending what you haven't got." Robert Ruark
there are too wild Indians...
there are too wild Indians...
there are too wild Indians...-----still taunted
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aboxaweek
Penny Pincher Member
USA
217 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2008 : 10:25:31
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we could go to china and steal there algae (or what some thought was a golf course)lol
i saw something about some gas at the bremuda triangle that could be an alt. energy source too |
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PennyWhoreDer
Member
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2008 : 13:56:27
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There is a company that is called GreenFuel that has several pilot plants working across US now.
I tried to get investment info, they will deal only with 'big' money (bigger than the 50K I asked to invest). The process requires a CO2 source to feed the algae so they are piggybacking the algae plants to conventional power plant exhausts to scavenge the needed co2. |
Knockin cents into you |
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Biofuel from Algae
