Advertisement
Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
"The sustainable energy age has begun. It was recently announced that a company in Florida called Green Flight International (GFI) has plans to construct a $100-million, algae biofuel plant aimed at making fuel for the aviation industry as well as for ground-based transportation
GFI has also completed the world's first jet-aircraft flight powered by 100% biofuel. GFI president and CEO Douglas Rodante says that "algae-based biofuel would be able to replace petroleum without alterations to engines or infrastructure, and could be used for all sorts of transportation."
The potential of algae biofuel for both vehicles and air travel is so promising that it will play a large role in helping America finally become energy independent. Biofuel from algae completely eliminates the food vs. fuel concerns of other biofuels, and CO2 will be significantly reduced. Algae are the fastest growing plants in the world, and that fact translates into 20,000 gallons of biofuel per acre! Soybean, corn, switchgrass and other biofuels cannot even compete......."
Read the full blog:
solargreenenergy.blogspot.com/200...html
solargreenenergy.blogspot.com
"The sustainable energy age has begun. It was recently announced that a company in Florida called Green Flight International (GFI) has plans to construct a $100-million, algae biofuel plant aimed at making fuel for the aviation industry as well as for ground-based transportation
GFI has also completed the world's first jet-aircraft flight powered by 100% biofuel. GFI president and CEO Douglas Rodante says that "algae-based biofuel would be able to replace petroleum without alterations to engines or infrastructure, and could be used for all sorts of transportation."
The potential of algae biofuel for both vehicles and air travel is so promising that it will play a large role in helping America finally become energy independent. Biofuel from algae completely eliminates the food vs. fuel concerns of other biofuels, and CO2 will be significantly reduced. Algae are the fastest growing plants in the world, and that fact translates into 20,000 gallons of biofuel per acre! Soybean, corn, switchgrass and other biofuels cannot even compete......."
Read the full blog:
solargreenenergy.blogspot.com/200...html
solargreenenergy.blogspot.com
posted by:
|
Advertisement
Advertisement
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Sun, November 30, 2008 - 2:31 PMHow much energy is required to convert this, and how is the energy created? This sounds interesting.
But I still want my switchgrass as it is vital wildlife habitat. I am highly against biofuels that use food crops. -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Sun, November 30, 2008 - 3:54 PMLOL, You're going to love this Wendy - the energy required comes from the sun! It's photosynthesis!!! It eliminates the need for biofuels from food crops too. And you can keep your switchgrass!
There are sources and videos in the blog... check 'em out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Sun, November 30, 2008 - 9:40 PMHmmmmm, I might be all for this. Lemme look more into it. Gotta keep my switchgrass!
And, silly, I was referring to the energy required to get the fuel product from the algae product, you can't tell me that it just seeps out into a fuel tank? Can you? That would be science-fictiony enough to make me go "oooooooooooooooooooooh, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
did I mention I am a science fiction nut? Anything someone can think up in science fiction doesn't have long before it is science fact. Look at space travel!
Also, I sure miss The Tick.
-
-
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Thu, December 4, 2008 - 10:41 PMThis is Great
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Fri, December 5, 2008 - 7:54 PMWhat i really want to know is if this is just a new face of big oil, or is it going to be another chip fat to diesel home project? -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Mon, December 15, 2008 - 7:13 AMBear, did you not read the blog & view all those videos? Algae biofuel would be in competition with big oil.
<<is it going to be another chip fat to diesel home project?>>
This comment suggests that you didn't read the blog or view all those videos. -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, December 17, 2008 - 5:07 AMSeriously, I have better things to do with my time than read all the press releases promoting some new wondorous technology (that is probably shite anyway).
Mosty of these so called salvation technolgoies turn out to be all piss and wind when the real numbers are in. -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, December 17, 2008 - 6:14 AMthis is of interest, but.. it doesn't change the fact that many of the newer diesel engines simply don't run on biodiesel, b100 at least.
We need to encourage automakers to build biod friendly engines. There are various biodiesel products that work better then others, but mainly on the % used of biod, we need more engines that will run on b100. As well as generators and heat pumps or other forms of heater
Very promising non the less. -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, December 17, 2008 - 5:35 PMAgreed George, I think we haven't even started yet - it just makes sense to have generators, heat pumps etc be able to use b100 as well as cars & many other things as well.
I've seen lawn mowers with solar technology for christs sakes!! summer time lawn vehicles, tractors, farm equipment should be able to run on b100. There are so many possibilities & we're just starting with new ideas. The options in the past have been gasoline or diesel - that was it. -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, December 17, 2008 - 6:33 PMI disagree. If you have to twink with the diesel engine anyway, why not switch it completely over to Vegetable oil? It cuts out a lot of processing, ethanol production, etc.
BioD is only a "good" fuel if it's being used to switch over unmodified diesel engines. Once you start turning cranks, might as well go for a better answer. Heck, while you're at it, go for waste vegetable oil. -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, December 17, 2008 - 8:35 PMwhat did I do forget what b100 was? Of all the oils algae is the best choice since it totally eliminates the food vs. fuel concerns. Algae can produce far more than any veggie per acre -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Mon, March 30, 2009 - 5:48 PMAs a matter of fact. It produces so rapidly, that we can create a park-o-matic (one of my favorite urban design concepts - saving space/energy/time/theft) with algae tubes around the side of it (lit at nice is really pretty/kinda eerie) and probably produce enough fuel for at least half the cars parked in it to continue running without any change in there current usage.
What do you guys think? How much space would it take up to fill my engine 15 gallons twice a week? And in how much time? And can we convert it in our garage?
Like kombucha or yogurt, we would simply need starters. :) Truly revolutionary and as of yet, fairly hush hush, this bio-algae will stop the other biofuel productions which eat up not only valuble food and land that food could be growing on, but which not only don't harm our topsoil, but which may actually replenish our topsoil - though I'm unsure as to the bi-products/externalities. Anyone know?
-
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Thu, December 18, 2008 - 7:16 AMi realize there is a difference in straight veggie oil an db100, but seems to me if the engine will run on straight veggie, it will also run on b100.
If so, we're shooting for the same thing? -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Thu, December 18, 2008 - 3:52 PMI thought it was implied myself ...
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, January 7, 2009 - 4:49 PM
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Sat, February 7, 2009 - 6:19 PMPut your request in to President Obama to convert Air Force One Jets over to operate on algae biofuel. Anything that runs on diesel can easily be converted to run on algae based biofuels - even military equipment - all without food vs. fuel concerns.
Mr. President, concerning "real" energy policy for the US & the recent news of a new algae biofuel plant in Florida for jet-aircraft, would you please consider converting Air Force One over to run on algae biofuel? "GFI president and CEO Douglas Rodante says that "algae-based biofuel would be able to replace petroleum without alterations to engines or infrastructure..."
Enjoy this blog, video & sources -
"Algae: The Biofuel Revolution"
solargreenenergy.blogspot.com/200...html
-----
Contact your elected officials to send your request
www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
; -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Mon, March 30, 2009 - 5:52 PMTHANKS!!!
Cyber-activism Complete.
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Tue, March 31, 2009 - 8:11 AMFuel for aircraft is critical and exacting according to strict tolerance for purity and cleanliness.
While 200 proof ethanol is possible, and useful as fuel...in fact the requirements for distillation to chemical industry standards are very expensive and it is neither practical to burn, or reasonable to expect as _pure_.
The matter of fuel in aircraft, in particular for jet engines, includes protections against freezing and also against bio-'mung' in the tanks.
(fuel which sits in wing bladders is often re-contaminated by a dormant-till-activated slime that grows and lives in the fuel itself.)
Expensive additives are included in more than one fuel standard that indicate not only the octane (ratio of carbon chain lengths composite in the fuel), but also to acheive better performance in the extreme cold, or in applications where bio-contamination is a threat.
A stall or staggering performance in air transportation or defence is a real problem.
-
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Sun, February 8, 2009 - 2:51 PMi can only imagine what the oil companies strategies are to combat this clean and friendly source of energy. -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Tue, February 10, 2009 - 2:21 PMAlgae grows very fast in the desert sun, we should have a few of these lakes with wind turbines on top, imagine the energy we could produce! When is someone gonna start this already! ?? -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Tue, February 10, 2009 - 2:40 PMWhat impact would that have on the insects? Insects congregate over the surface areas of lakes and then the birds come in and eat those insects. It seems that would be a dangerous idea. Now if you are talking about the algae, I believe they grow them in enclosed vats, not lakes. If they run these facilities using solar energy and then relying on algae fuel to supplement, using no electricity from the grid at all, I will be impressed. If they run off the grid at all, then no, I don't buy it.
-
-
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 8:35 AMgarbo gas digestors (livestock manure) are actually inexpensive and produce copious volumes of methane.
(news is that a family with appropriate tanks can support lighting and cooking by methane), but the process _must_ be carefully temperature maintained, and requires a lot of added water.
using solar to heat, and also an appropriate method to cool during the otherwise over hot periods, is the issue.
apparently, a family of seven can expect their methane needs to be met, by either 6 cows, or 4 buffalo. -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 10:18 AMFunny, I read somewhere that 1 cow could provide enough methane for a family of 4. hmmm, I'd like to find that reference again. I don't remember any calculations included.
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 10:28 AMAgreed. There are multiple farms in the northwest who use their cows to produce all their electricity needs and they sell the excess to the grid. Plus, people whine and complain about landfills, but properly maintained and operated landfills can provide two major functions. One is that they house items we haven't otherwise found a use for, and two they produce a HUGE amount of energy. I get so angry when I drive past landfills at night and see them burning off all that usable energy. They should harness it, pipe it, and utilize it in the grid and pass the savings off to the public. No sense in the public having to pay taxes to maintain the landfill and then have to pay for the energy coming out of the landfill, you know what I am saying? -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 10:46 AMThe engineer that I work with most often has a pet specialty in harvesting and using the methane produced by anaerobic digestors at wastewater treatment facilities to power part of the facility. He had some choice words to say about one of the rival engineering firm's recommendation to remove infrastructure *already in place* rather than repair the roof of the digestor. wtf?
Landfills serve a third function. Great sledding in the winter time. -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 12:00 PMHAHAHAHA!
I never thought about sledding. I am in south Texas, we don't.........sled.
Now, landfills serve a fourth function. When they have become full and are properly converted, they build subdivisions on top of them. Properly maintained, the energy produced from those landfills could power a lot of those subdivisions. Coupled with tax-incentives for the builders to install energy efficiency and solar capability, those subdivisions could get close to using only minimal grid energy. Just a thought. -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 1:32 PMYeah, I'm in northern Vermont. Sledding helps make up for the short growing season.
Your point about the subdivisions reminds me of a contractor who built a subdivision near a wastewater treatment lagoon and sold the units as waterfront property. -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 1:41 PMThat actually works. Usually, the lagoons are near the end of the long journey. We have a reclamation area here that is also a bird watchers site. They have set up a small walking path and interpretive signage. They have gone to great lengths to utilize the proper plant life and overland water flows to filter and clean the water. The lagoon at the base of the area is clean water and they go in and remove the cattails annually. The cattails suck up the heavy metals along the overland flow area leaving the bottom water clean. There are fish and native plants all over it. It's really beautiful. It's all about utilizing what you have instead of going back to the stone age. And it makes a great stop over for migrating birds. -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 1:48 PMThey're pretty space intensive, but do work quite well. Do they have a problem with duckweed in the lagoons? How is the lagoon at removing phosphorus in the reclamation area? (or lagoons, since they're usually in series) -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 2:33 PMHmmm, I didn't look into the individual chemicals when we did our wetland reclamation management plan. My section was only regarding the wildlife integration portion. My files are locked up in a box somewhere in the garage or I would look it up. I know the other team member did a whole work up on the chemicals, the plants needed to filter out the chemicals, and what not. I don't remember every seeing any duckweed in the area. I know we had some bladderwort and salvinia. Let me see if I can find some write-up on it.
-
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Mon, March 30, 2009 - 5:57 PMI'm curious if the cattails are edible, having converted the toxins to something else, of if they must be thrown out, composted, burnt, used as animal feed, or woven into beautiful peices of art/basketry/flower arrangements for local resale? -
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Tue, March 31, 2009 - 5:45 PMThey must be destroyed. Usually, when they are used for water reclamation, they are then harvested and incinerated because they are full of heavy metals.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Re: Algae: The Biofuel Revolution
Wed, February 11, 2009 - 9:36 AMThere are many areas in the world, both in freshwater and in bays and harbors, where there are huge algae blooms.
Check out these photos!!!
images.google.com/images
images.google.com/images
This because of nutrient pollution, too much fertilizer runoff , phosphates from soaps and sewage. Removing the algae removes the pollutants from the systems that are in peril. Perhaps ways will be developed that use this, helping solve two major problems. More than that, really, as i think fertilizer would also be produced too.
I think we are entering a reality based economy where things that make sense will increasingly make sense.
