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Algae are one of the oldest forms of life on Earth.
Algae-to-biofuels is quickly becoming a hot item. Unfortunately, like many new technology trends nonsense prevails and uninformed investors follow the yellow brick road. However, there is reality emerging.
The truth is, that without algae, life on Earth as we know it would not exist. Almost three billion years ago our planet was a hostile place with excess N2, CO2 and toxic gases in the atmosphere until algae in the oceans began to transform CO2 through photosynthesis into oxygen (O2) making the air breathable. Then sunlight split some of the oxygen molecules to recombine into ozone (O3) and created the Ozone Layer, which protected the Earth’s surface from the devastating UV rays from the sun. Therefore, without algae we would not be here today.
Today we are calling on algae again to save our planet. It is worth repeating the five major factors that favor algae. These are as follows:
1. Algae produce 100 times more oil per acre than traditional food oilseed crops (i.e. corn, soy, etc.).
2. Algae eat CO2, the major Global Warming Gas, and produce oxygen.
3. Algae require only sunshine and non-drinkable (salt or brackish) water.
4. Algae do not compete with food crops for either agricultural land or fresh water.
5. Algae can reproduce themselves and their oil every 6 hours, while it takes Mother Nature millions of years to produce crude oil in the ground.
Our civilization must learn quickly to wean itself off crude oil or it will not survive.
If you think this statement is not true then let’s talk about engineering and scientific facts and not about political rhetoric. You should consider the following facts:
1. The three existing mega oil fields of the world (one in Mexico and two in Arab countries) are all exhibiting steep declines in production.
2. The oil industry finds only one new barrel of oil for every six barrels we burn.
3. The U.S. consumes 25% of all the oil produced in the world each day.
4. The United States has drilled more oil wells than the rest of the World combined yet only possesses 2% of the known oil reserves.
5. The U.N Secretary General Kofi Annan recently stated at the 2006 U.N. Climate Change Conference “Climate change is not just an environmental issue, as too many people still believe. It is an all-encompassing threat.” .
Mr. Annan went on to say “This is not science fiction. These are plausible scenarios, based on clear and rigorous scientific modeling. A few diehard skeptics continue to deny global warming is taking place and try to sow doubt. They should be seen for what they are: out of step, out of arguments and out of time.”
The above factors present an energy picture that is not sustainable even in the short-term, and it’s getting worst each day.
Algae-to-biodiesel can really make a substantial contribution to energy independence and can provide the U.S. with more fuel than soy oil, canola oil or corn oil combined. Algae oil can provide fuel without increasing food prices and algae meal could reduce animal feed prices or possibly even general food prices.
In New Mexico alone, the U.S. Department of Energy (US DOE) estimates that there are 5 billion acre-feet of salt water under the uninhabitable desert sands, which are good for little except growing algae.
Green Star Products, along with its Consortium partners, believes it has a decisive lead in the algae-to-biofuels race because it already possesses industrial biodiesel technology and has a technology lead in the production of algae.
That algae will win out since it eats CO2....