Posted on 12/11/2006 8:11:06 AM PST by mad puppy
Solix Biofuels Inc., a startup company based in Boulder, is working with Colorado State University engineers to commercialize technology that can cheaply mass produce oil derived from algae and turn it into biodiesel - an environmentally friendly solution to high gas prices, greenhouse gas emissions and volatile global energy markets.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsinfo.colostate.edu ...
Fuel taxes generally go for road construction and maintenance -- it's as close to a direct user fee as you're likely to see. What's the problem?
Hint: algae grow very well in water, and not so well on land.
Do you think thr ev. wackos will permit algae farms on wetlands?
barbra ann
I see on the web page they are shipping to South Africa. SA had four coal to oil plants built in the late 70's, early 80's. but I understand they are no longer in operation. It looks like biodiesel is not price competive with petro diesel, how can they operate at a loss, or are the diesel customers green enough they will pay more for bio. BTW what is feed stock for GreenStar?
barbra ann
Why worry about wetlands when you've got oceans?
Greenstar "feedstock" is ALGAE...............They GROW diesel!........
Algae can be grown in the desert or anyplace that has room, regardless of soil..........
True ... but water's an awfully convenient place to grow it.
I wouldn't run my lawnmower on regular!
Check out Sasol SA (the company that operates the coal-to-gas-to-liquid plants). They sell a lot as chemicals as well as fuels.
The Fischer Tropsch conversion is very profitable when oil stays about $55 a barrel.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that Sasol also has a major deal with the Chinese to license or build coal-gas-liquid plants in China, so they can ease their dependence on oil imports.
Red Badger is right, though: The future is diesel because 20-30% less fuel consumption means no imports from the Middle East. Bye bye OPEC
$1.97 is just slightly better than around Denver right now: 2.10.
What bothers me about that is we are so dependent on the mood swings of OPEC and the oil refineries here in the States. I just want an energy source that is extremely efficient, as green-friendly as possible AND doesn't put money into the hands of those who fund terrorists.
It would completely destroy complete ecosystems if lakes and ponds were used. It can't be grown in seas because it would float away. The only option left is land where they will have to build algae growing tanks.
I'm sure you could as easily think of a remedy for this as I did.
FWIW, though, check the links Red Badger provided above, showing how a land-based version would work.
Who is A&E on the Sasol Units these days. I was working with Flour E&C out of Irvine CA when they built Sasol 1,2&3.
barbra ann
Only Mercedes has built a really successful Diesel powered Auto. Does MB import a diesel anymore?The Turbo 300 in the 80's was a great engine.Ford, Dodge, and Chevy make pickups but wonder why no cars. The Cadillacs and Pontiacs in the 70's were real turkeys. In the old days, back in the 50's. Cummins built an Indy Roadster which took the pole but unfortunately was a DNF.
barbra ann
I meant marketed in the US. I realize that there are many diesel Autos. the London Taxis come to mind. But for American Roads?
barbra ann
You must be kidding!! BMW have some of the smoothest diesel engines around and Audi (part of VW) won the Le Mans 24 Hour race 1st & 2nd places with diesels this year.
Essentially, until the fuel quality is raised to match that of Europe, the biggest US markets remain off limits to the best diesel cars around (CA, MA, etc) because of emmissions, so the excuse is 'no market' (which is what they said about hybrids when Toyota started marketing them...)
You can cure a lot of that with expensive catalysts on the vehicles, but it is much more efficient to clean up the fuel (and better for the environment, to keep the tree-huggers happy! ;-)
The Merc E320 diesel is a very nice ride and available at a dealer near you! VW Jetta (for the more modest budget) is also pretty smooth (if you can find it).
The difference with todays diesels (vs. the Cadies of the 70s) is that in markets like Europe, where they mandated Ultra Low Sulphur fuels 10 years ago, diesel engines were developed and sold (gas being $6 a gallon!). Without the change in the fuel, no development (except adding turbos) was possible. Europe mandated a change in the fuel and now diesels are 45-50% of new car sales (from about 10% 10 years ago).
Beat Big Oil into submission on upgrading their refineries (what they can't afford it??) and you will have the opportunity to drive fanatastic vehicles like the Audi A6 3L TDi Quattro or the BMW 540 d.
I think German companies have been more heavily involved in this. Linde Engineering AG and Lurgi AG have built various chemical plants for Sasol and others, as they have a lot of German domestic experience in this technology and downstream applications for the chemical industry. Of course, Lurgi AG were some of the first people to develop commercial Fischer Tropsch technology (but don’t mention the war!)
Sasol also started a GTL plant in Qatar this year and announced a $32m investment in a Fischer Tropsch reactor at it’s R&D centre in SA, as well. One of their VPs told me that they will either invest and build plants for themselves or JV if they retain the intellectual property & favourable royalties.
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