Could West Texas algae curb oil dependence?

Houston Chronicle ^ | Oct. 7, 2007 | Brett Clanton

[According2RecentPollsAirIsGood]

ANTHONY — A year ago, this dusty patch of land near the New Mexico border contained little more than dirt and the odd sprig of alfalfa. Today, it is home to a $3 million laboratory that is crackling with activity.

The hi-tech lab was built for a peculiar but possibly revolutionary purpose: to explore ways algae can be used to reduce the world's dependence on oil.

An arid stretch of West Texas might seem like a strange place to study the tiny water-borne plants, but the work is more than just a big idea.

The two companies behind it, El Paso's Valcent Products and Canadian alternative energy firm Global Green Solutions, have developed a system they claim will allow for cheap mass production of algae in just about any corner of the world.

Such a breakthrough, though still untested on a wide scale, could greatly accelerate the expansion of renewable fuels like biodiesel and ethanol because the oil extracted from algae can be used to make those fuels, said the companies who own the lab through a joint venture called Vertigro.

Today, those fuels are seen as having limited potential to curb oil consumption because they rely on oils from food crops like corn and soybeans, whose prices are rising. But algae could change the equation.

"This market is enormous," said Global Green CEO Doug Frater. "And it's waiting for us."

[MrEdd]

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[Tijeras_Slim]

They say that one tenth of the land area of New Mexico could supply the entire US with it's oil needs...let's give them the whole state.

HEY! HEY! HEY!

[Old Professer]

Algae won’t grow in diesel fuel if it is kept dehydrated; it is easily demonstrated using a water glass, a small amount of DF2 and a small amount of water.

When the water is added to the fuel, it simply sinks to the bottom raising the fuel as it floats on the water.

You can easily see the line where they meet and it is at this interface that the algae is allowed to grow.

Once the fuel is being pumped, trace amounts of contamined water and algae are pumped into the filters where they are trapped until they eventually overwhelm the filter and the engine being fed dies of starvation.

Eliminate the water, prevent its entry or dry the fuel with solvents and the problem can be managed.

[wolfcreek]

The Bureau of Land Management administers 264 million acres of public lands,
located primarily in the 12 Western States.

[jas3]

The US uses about 20 million barrels of oil a day. There are 42 gallons in a barrel. So that is 840 million gallons per day. That comes out to 306.6 billion gallons per year.

Since one acre yields 100,000 gallons per year of algae oil (which we will presume is equivalent in refined product output to crude oil...which I highly doubt), then we only need 3 million acres to reduce our crude demand to zero.

Since one acre = 0.0015625 square mile, 3,066,00 acres = 4,790.625 square miles. That’s a single square about 69.2 miles per side. And the US is something like 6 million square miles.

So on the face of it, it is not completely ridiculous. But I’m very suspicious of the notion that the energy content of algae oil is equal to that of crude. I also suspect that cultivating algae bags would be quite energy (and water and carbon dioxide and labor) intensive.

Interesting concept though.

jas3

[edsheppa]

Research on algae as a potential energy source is nothing new. But it suffered a setback in 1996 when the U.S. Energy Department cut funding for an algae research program that had been in place since 1978, said Al Darzins,... With energy prices so low at the time, the agency doubted algae would ever be able to compete on cost with traditional petroleum sources, he said.

You mean on Al Gore's watch this very promising research was cut back? For shame!

[MrEdd]

renewable energy

[B4Ranch]

ping

[Paladin2]

Didn’t know that, thanks for the tip!

[Uncledave]

Renewable Energy Ping

Please Freep Mail me if you'd like on/off

[edsheppa]

I've thought for some time they should consider doing this in the ocean. There's abundant sunlight and "acreage" available out there. It's been shown that algea will bloom in the iron-poor ocean if iron is supplied.

And consider harvesting some other, larger creature that uses algea for food and is genetically modified for enhanced oil content, as it will be cheaper to contain in the "farm." Some efficienies would be lost of course so probably not a good idea to go much higher in the food chain.

[southland]

bttt

[Reeses]

But I’m very suspicious of the notion that the energy content of algae oil is equal to that of crude.

Petroleum comes from saltwater algae, coal from freshwater plants. Algae can grow in the open ocean, does not need land, freshwater, or fertilizer. Algae can be optimized to make diesel, alcohol, or emit hydrogen gas. In addition algae can be used absorb pollution.

The leftists are starting to get worried about this, referring to algae as pond scum and algae researchers as low on the food chain. Unlike ethanol this threatens their dreams of an imposed communist lifestyle.

[dusttoyou]

No brag, just fact.

[dblshot]

And/Or add biocide that kills the algae.

[racnpartsales4u]

I will gladly do my part. They can harvest out of the pond in my front yard and my kids fish tank.

[Reeses]

Someone could get rich converting backyard swimming pools into personal biodiesel factories.

[Old Professer]

Better to prevent the entrainment of water for long term effectiveness; barring that, treat and pump out any tank bottoms.

National Chemsearch used to sell a product that would allow for rapid separation after agitation, such as what happens when fresh fuel is dropped in a partial tank, it also contained a basic biocide.

Don’t remember the name or whether they still sell it.

I once was in charge of 19 gensets for a VA hospital with a combined 7.5MW capacity and ordered and controlled all the fuel being used.

We eventually replaced the in-ground tanks and upgraded the system.

[cpdiii]

Maybe the lab could be located at the Space Station and avoid being overcome with the threat of full vacuum annihilation of any unruly specimens

We need Harry Mudd and his tribles. Squish them for the oil and barbecue them over mesquite and wash them down with Shiner Bock Winter Ale! In one fell swoop we have solved the oil problem and world hunger, but we will probably be short on Shiner Beer.

[Carry_Okie]

IMO the best place to do bio-diesel is in tropical oceans. There's no land to buy, no farmland to lose, plenty of sun, easy temperature control, free agitation, cheap transportation, and water everywhere. If a hurricane comes along, sink it a couple of hundred feet. The processing could be done on delivery ships.