Algae is yet another solution that researchers have thrown onto the table as we continue the fight to decrease harmful emissions into the atmosphere. There are a handful of companies around the country who've been experimenting with algae based fuels. Algae is a natural oil-producer, and we can even use existing oil refineries to process algae and make biocrude, which is the renewable alternative to petroleum. On the other hand, other types of algae that have less oil and more carbohydrates can be processed to make ethanol. One company at the forefront of the algae energy field is GreenFuel Technologies Corporation, which was recently ranked #3 in the country for cutting edge ecological advancement by Plenty Magazine (An environmental media company "dedicated to the Green Revolution). GreenFuel is unique in its technology, which involves closed bioreactors which pump CO2 emissions through algae enriched waters. Photosynthesis allows the algae to feed on the CO2, and every few hours the algae doubles in mass.
GreenFuel Technologies and similar companies tout their technology as an ideal solution, because algae uses the process of photosynthesis, so the process would create reusable fuel, at the same time absorbing damaging CO2 emissions (the company claims it can capture 80% of a factory's emission during one day of sunlight). One of the major problems with Ethanol production is the need for huge quantities of soybean, corn, and other food crops, much more than is currently produced for consumption. Furthermore, these crops are only able to be hearvested at certain times. Algae, on the other hand, multiplies every hour and is able to be harvested daily. Furthermore, algae grows in ponds and other marshy, non-harvestable areas, so the dilemma with crop space for ethanol farming would be solved with algae.
Like most of the suggested energy solutions, the question is no longer whether or not it is scientificaly possible. It's more of a question of how cheaply the new technologies can be administered, and algae based fuel production isn't necessarily a cheap solution. Unfortuntely we are nearing the point where investing millions in new environmental technology is absolutely necessary. With the rate of progress in the War of Iraq, and the amount of money that the government invests in the war each day, I think we could invest a fraction of that sum into ecological technology and see loads more progress-- the science and knowledge are there, and most of these companies are now just waiting on funding.
GreenFuel Technologies and similar companies tout their technology as an ideal solution, because algae uses the process of photosynthesis, so the process would create reusable fuel, at the same time absorbing damaging CO2 emissions (the company claims it can capture 80% of a factory's emission during one day of sunlight). One of the major problems with Ethanol production is the need for huge quantities of soybean, corn, and other food crops, much more than is currently produced for consumption. Furthermore, these crops are only able to be hearvested at certain times. Algae, on the other hand, multiplies every hour and is able to be harvested daily. Furthermore, algae grows in ponds and other marshy, non-harvestable areas, so the dilemma with crop space for ethanol farming would be solved with algae.
Like most of the suggested energy solutions, the question is no longer whether or not it is scientificaly possible. It's more of a question of how cheaply the new technologies can be administered, and algae based fuel production isn't necessarily a cheap solution. Unfortuntely we are nearing the point where investing millions in new environmental technology is absolutely necessary. With the rate of progress in the War of Iraq, and the amount of money that the government invests in the war each day, I think we could invest a fraction of that sum into ecological technology and see loads more progress-- the science and knowledge are there, and most of these companies are now just waiting on funding.
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