NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/11/22/obrien.pond.scum.cnn

For those of you who can't see that, I'll look for the youtube version.

It's about a vertical algae farm that can grow algae and convert it to biofuel at a rate several orders of magnitude more efficiently than corn. and can do it anywhere.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2OwcwUTvDY

ohmygod i want one of those! i can grow my own biofuel!

ohmygod i want one of those! i can grow my own biofuel!

I sure do.

If the guy's estimate is right... Well, let's assume that he's being overly optimistic and assume he's half right: 50,000 gallons of fuel per acre per year. Let's further say you use an extremely generous 50 gallons of fuel per week. That's 2600 gallons a year. You would need about 1/20th of an acre to keep your gas hog full. *nod*

I sure do.

If the guy's estimate is right... Well, let's assume that he's being overly optimistic and assume he's half right: 50,000 gallons of fuel per acre per year. Let's further say you use an extremely generous 50 gallons of fuel per week. That's 2600 gallons a year. You would need about 1/20th of an acre to keep your gas hog full. *nod*
*waits for Oil companies to cover this up until the patent runs out, and they can use the technology without paying royalties*

I sure do.

If the guy's estimate is right... Well, let's assume that he's being overly optimistic and assume he's half right: 50,000 gallons of fuel per acre per year. Let's further say you use an extremely generous 50 gallons of fuel per week. That's 2600 gallons a year. You would need about 1/20th of an acre to keep your gas hog full. *nod*
i could do that easy. i live in new mexico where the sun shines 330 days a year.

*waits for Oil companies to cover this up until the patent runs out, and they can use the technology without paying royalties*

I'd hunt them down and do horrible, yet hilarious things to them!

No James Stewart :(

Sounds interesting. If only oil prices hadn't headed south recently, making it a lot less economically attractive.

No James Stewart :(
that movie sucked anyway.

Sounds interesting. If only oil prices hadn't headed south recently, making it a lot less economically attractive.
that makes this a good time to get into it. no premium for excess demand and the price of gas is sure to rise again.

that makes this a good time to get into it. no premium for excess demand and the price of gas is sure to rise again.

I knew there was a reason I'm not an investy type person. :p

Biofuel was only ever going to make sense when you do it with algae. It's more cost-effective, doesn't take away anywhere near as much resources from food production and takes more carbon out of the atmosphere as well IIRC. It's just that the technology wasn't quite commercially viable the last time I checked.

The oil companies are well aware of it:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9832304-54.html
http://envirofuel.com.au/2007/12/12/shell-and-hr-biopetroleum-to-grow-marine-algae-for-biodiesel-in-hawaii/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9810969-7.html
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/chevron_backs_solazyme.php

All the other sources of biofuel were basically stopgap measures, and the only country where it really worked properly is Brazil, after many years of state investment to get the infrastructure set up and reduce unit costs, and with shitloads of land to work with - who knows at what cost to the native environment.

I'd hunt them down and do horrible, yet hilarious things to them!

Only if it is fatal to them and their companies. People will put up with a lot if it means profit.

Only if it is fatal to them and their companies. People will put up with a lot if it means profit.

1. Start up an Oil company.
2. Cover up biofuels until the patent runs out.
3. Use for your own company.
4. Have horrible, yet hilarious things down to you by LG.
5. ???
6. PROFIT!

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/11/22/obrien.pond.scum.cnn

For those of you who can't see that, I'll look for the youtube version.

It's about a vertical algae farm that can grow algae and convert it to biofuel at a rate several orders of magnitude more efficiently than corn. and can do it anywhere.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2OwcwUTvDY

Here's my response to that: Hurry the hell up and perfect it, so we can get off foreign oil!

/me respects Algae Oil. :D

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/11/22/obrien.pond.scum.cnn

For those of you who can't see that, I'll look for the youtube version.

It's about a vertical algae farm that can grow algae and convert it to biofuel at a rate several orders of magnitude more efficiently than corn. and can do it anywhere.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2OwcwUTvDY

That more energy efficient than using solar power just for electricity?

algae is okay. but yeast biofuels is where ti is at. just add sugar and no need to worry about the sun.
http://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2008/06/20/unleash_biofuels/

That more energy efficient than using solar power just for electricity?

That's hard to believe, but what I wonder is if it's more efficient than converting solar energy to hydrogen?

That may be so, Greed And Death, but it's always wise to bet on more than one horse. Algae oil may be a good alternative for mineral oil, but can we also use it to make plastics? If so, it seems like an awesome alternative for our crippling addiction to the black gold.