Why Algae? Consider these quick facts:
Algae has the highest net energy yield (33-to-1) of any biofuel, meaning it only takes one unit of energy to produce 33 units of usable energy.
Algae, since it is not a food crop, will not cause food shortages or increase prices.
Algae can be used to treat wastewater. In fact, it thrives on these nutrients.
Algae does not lead to a netincrease in atmospheric carbon dioxide, as it consumes massive amounts of CO2 during growth.
Algae-based biofuels provide many benefits
In terms of sustainability, algae provides an exceeding number of benefits where corn simply does not. For instance, its net energy yeild has been estimated at an incredible 33-to-1 ratio (“Energy for the Future”). Once the infrastructure is in place, algae will only require one unit of energy input for every 33 units of energy it produces. Aside from that, another reason for selecting algae for fuel production is that it is not used as a food crop, which means it will not cause shortages or price swings in other vital markets, as explained by Nick Hodge (32). This proposal, then, allows algae to fill a very specialized niche that faces no direct competition, as opposed to most other agrofuel choices. When compared to practically any other crop, algae has the ability to be grown in a significantly wider variety of conditions – including both fresh and saltwater, as well as in a very broad range of temperatures, spanning from below freezing to a blazing 158 degrees Fahrenheit (32). Algae is also extremely productive and efficient. According to Eviana Hartman of the Washington Post, “the slimy aquatic organisms yield 30 times more energy per acre than land crops such as soybeans, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.” Being more efficient is one thing, but a thirty-fold increase in productivity over traditional crop-based biofuels is simply astounding.
Although it would seem obvious that large-scale algae production will require substantial water resources, it is important to note that algae has the potential to be used in conjunction with wastewater and other forms of recycled water. Not only will this provide the algae with the vital nutrients it needs to grow, algae has the ability to naturally filter the water, offering the potential for a dual purpose of producing fuel and reclaiming wastewater. Although there are many possible sources for nutrients vital to algae growth, Robert Mcintyre claims that “wastewater from about 1,200 dairy cows, 5,000 pigs, or 30,000 people would supply nutrients for 25 acres of algae ponds” (26).
Before we can truly say that algae is the answer, it will be necessary to prove that the fuels we produce will actually be of some value to Americans as a whole. The easiest and most powerful application of algae fuel will be in the form biodiesel, which can be used in any modern diesel engine without modification according to G. Tyler Miller and Scott E. Spoolman (423). Additionally, these engines can be as much as 40% more efficient than regular gasoline engines. A common application in the United Stated will be algae-based ethanol, which can be added to current gasoline engines with a 10-23% mixture. The resulting fuel is known as gasohol and will not harm modern engines (424). Another form of ethanol is available in 85% ethanol mixtures, but this type can only be burned in flexible-fuel cars, which are relatively low in numbers. The good news is that practically any car can be modified for varying costs to run on algae. Apparently these are good enough reasons to get into the algae business, for many startup and established gasoline companies have invested in it. According to ExxonMobil’s website, fuels derived from algae are much more powerful than those from other food crops, meaning they can even be used to produce jet fuel that meets current specifications (“Algae Biofuels”).
In regards to industrial application and economic incentives, algae is leagues ahead of its competition. Most notably, algae is touted for its ability to store and consume CO2. According to Robert Mcintyre, in order to reduce carbon emissions, many major power plants are considering Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) systems (which are unrelated to algae). The installation of these would cost an estimated $250-$500 million to retrofit onto existing plants; rather than invest such huge amounts of money into these types of systems, utility companies can simultaneously reduce their carbon emissions and generate additional energy by pumping their carbon (at very low costs) into a local algae biofuel facility (28). This method is already being used with success at an algae farm in Hawaii. A study by the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicates that a 3,000 acre algae farm would have the potential to consume all carbon emissions from a large coal power plant (500-megawatt capacity). According to the IEA in a 2006 estimate, mixed algae ponds with all the necessary equipment will cost about $48,000 per acre and require $3,900 in yearly operating costs (28). Based on these estimates, a coal plant can sequester all of its carbon in algae for only $144 million, much less that the installation of CCS systems. In addition, this scale of farm could potentially yield 42 million gallons of biofuels every year, a huge economic incentive. Considering these numbers, a farm of this size could turn a profit on its investment in two years if it charged a minimum price of $2.00 a gallon. As illustrated by these facts, algae has the potential to offer much more than just a petroleum substitute.
All things considered, algae makes more sense than any other biofuel on the market today.
These companies are already pursuing algae biofuels:
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