And I tell you again that those numbers mean squat. Research prototypes are ALWAYS hugely expensive. The "research version" of a new car prototype (or engine prototype, or virtually anything else) is ALWAYS orders of magnitude higher than the mass produced final version.
We simply have no way of knowing what the conversion efficiency can be pushed to by the use of genetic engineering on the algae, nor what the final plant configuration might be.
” The “research version” of a new car prototype (or engine prototype, or virtually anything else) is ALWAYS orders of magnitude higher than the mass produced final version.”
Which explains why the projected numbers ARE important as they show the magnitude of improvement necessary to compete with other fuels.
For example the DoD estimated that the cost of $20/ga. for bio-diesel would have to drop to $2/gal. to be viable. A 90% reduction. Doable? Perhaps, perhaps not.
PetroSun, one of the algae to oil startups, say they’re going commercial with production rates of 4000/gal./acre/yr. but the hoped for figure is around 15000 gal.,etc. of feedstock. Doable? Perhaps.
So knowing the distance that must be traveled should temper the enthusiasm a bit.
“We simply have no way of knowing what the conversion efficiency can be pushed to by the use of genetic engineering on the algae, nor what the final plant configuration might be.”
Which is also a way of saying that as far as the eye can see
there’s no pond scum gas stations.