Algal update

Texas forum on what's new, April 10

Posted by Erik Hoffner (Guest Contributor) at 4:11 PM on 02 Apr 2008

Read more about: Texas | biofuels | energy | renewable energy

For the interest of those who haven't given up entirely on biofuels, I humbly present the National Algae Association forum in Texas on April 10. This meeting will serve as an update on what's new in this promising branch of the nascent sustainable biofuel movement: biodiesel from cultured algae (outside of biodiesel from waste oil, that is).

This week's Renewable Energy World podcast had an interesting interview with the principal of one algae-fuel company, Solix Biofuels. Like all the companies, they have a whole array of challenges to figure out, from competitor algae to stress regimes that are optimal for producing oil. It's actually tough to grow algae -- who knew?

For story: Algal update
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My favorite algae

Growing algae of a specific, high-oil-content strain and keeping it free from contamination without spending a mint on closed bioreactors is tough. Growing algae -- period -- is as far as I know pretty easy.

So here's what I don't understand. Why worry about oil content at all? Why not just grow large volumes of algae, skim it off, press out the water, and pryolise it to make synthesis gas (from which you can make gasoline, diesel, or any number of chemicals)?

by GreenEngineer at 5:16 PM on 02 Apr 2008

yes

GE: yes, folks are looking at other angles too with algae, ie cellulosic ethanol, but biodiesel gets the most attention. Your idea sounds good, wonder who might be looking at that.

Erik

The Orion Grassroots Network: 1,200+ grassroots groups working for conservation & more

by Erik Hoffner at 5:56 PM on 02 Apr 2008
[ Parent ]

Instead of pyrolis, why not methane digestors

Some of the original literature on algae and kelp pointed out that bacteria exist that can digest sea plants into methane - even in a salt water substrate.

by Gar Lipow at 6:23 PM on 02 Apr 2008

"pond scum"

A recent Texas story from CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/04/01/algae.oil/inde ....

Notice that, as if by coincidence, the green of the hanging racks of algae packets is very close to the green background of that annoying circular "we" logo for Al Gore's new enterprise, in which the "w" is just a flipped "m."

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 7:24 PM on 02 Apr 2008

yep Gar

Why not? Harvest algae and plant overgrowth from waterways to turn into biogas and organic fertilizer. Lakes, rivers, and even oceans need help dealing with fertilizer and manure run off.

Hypercar plugin hybrids could actually have biogas backup. Very little compressed fuel would be needed.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

by amazingdrx at 1:15 PM on 08 Apr 2008

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