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I read a short but very interesting article by Jorge Chapa in The Guardian U.K. His article explains that DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) has funded U.S.$100 million toward the R and D of a certain species of algae for jet fuel to be used by the U.S. Department of Defense. They are on target for a cost competitive product of $3.00 per gallon.
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." --Albert Einstein
~ All Things Plants, SOUTHWEST GARDENING ~Cubits.orgENERGY & POWER
I read an article about an Arizona company called PetroSun Biofuels. They have 1,100 acres near Texas Gulf area and are devoting 20 acres of salt water ponds (it's a salt water algae, not fresh water) to research and development of algae for experimental jet fuel. Article said they think the algae yields 30 times more energy than "nearest competitor (??) and that they will be able to produce 4.4 million gallons at that site. More sites are planned in Louisiana, Arizona, Brazil even and more. Commercial airlines, including Continental are committing to test flights. Virgin Airlines has already conducted a test flight using coconut and babassu oil.
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." --Albert Einstein
~ All Things Plants, SOUTHWEST GARDENING ~Cubits.orgENERGY & POWER
Ahh, that makes much more sense, saltwater algae. Wonder if they could use wetlands to do that or would if ruin them? That is a stupid question, I know!
Yea, I'd guess just about everyone near a wetlands and then some would take up arms if the company wanted to slog through scooping up algae for jet fuel. The good news is I understand they don't need potable water, waste water will do and they don't need arable lands. Maybe even Bonneville Salt Flats would be a good place to grow the stuff!
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." --Albert Einstein
~ All Things Plants, SOUTHWEST GARDENING ~Cubits.orgENERGY & POWER
Well, living on the coast, I say I prefer algae to oil drilling! And we have plenty of waste water so I hope they go for it, wish I had to land to sell them!
This is one biofuels plan that really makes sense to me. It doesn't use up either arable land or freshwater resources. And since the algae produces usable oils directly, there's very little energy lost to other refining steps. I'm looking forward to hearing more.
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." --Albert Einstein
~ All Things Plants, SOUTHWEST GARDENING ~Cubits.orgENERGY & POWER
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." --Albert Einstein
~ All Things Plants, SOUTHWEST GARDENING ~Cubits.orgENERGY & POWER
Very nice! A 10:1 return on energy input. And they think they can get to $80 per barrel by scaling up existing technology. It may be some decades before that's our primary source of liquid fuel, but it seems like a very promising start.
I does and it seems to be a truly viable alternative that is seriously being considered, researched and developed. Nice to find out these things!
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." --Albert Einstein
~ All Things Plants, SOUTHWEST GARDENING ~Cubits.orgENERGY & POWER
Price of gasoline in your area OPEC crude oil pricing (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly) 30 sec. load. AAA Fuel cost Calculator (How much from your house to their house?) USGS.gov (earthquake monitoring and other earth information)
