Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert91RS
+1
Algae is one of the fastest growing organisms on earth. So it could potentialy be produces faster than corn based ethenol. And produced in large enough quantities it could be cheaper also.
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It can...and IS! There is no doubts on that, Corn ethanol is down at the bottom of the "preferred" alternative fuels list because of its inefficiency (not to mention the food criticism)
Corn Ethanol energy yeild is like 1.1:1. So, we get 1.1 units of energy out for every 1 we put in to make it. Switchgrass approaches 7:1 (because it grows with sunlight and without fertilizer). Algae, iirc, is something like 20:1.
50% by weight of Algae is oil. If refined, it is said that for 1/10th the land area of New Mexico, we can replace 100% of the US's OIL usage. So...plastics, oil, tar, gasoline, desiel, etc.
This shows great promise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MontyCarlo
Best of luck to the algae folks. I'm just worried it'll be stuck in development for decades like fusion power has been. They tried it before - I think it was the 70s or 80s - and couldn't get it to produce fuel efficiently enough or in high enough volumnes.
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I agree. The difference between fusion and this is that fusion is VERY difficult to achieve and maintain the reaction...with Algae, it's just a matter of finding the right species to yeild maximum oil production.
There are test-plants out there right now doing it. They are approx 4 years out, however, before mass-production can start efficiently and cost-effectively. :(