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Algae As Biofuel

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Energy, Environment, Ideas, Science, The World

Very interesting development that could help address the big bio-fuel scam we’re currently being sold.

ANTHONY, Texas (CNN) — Texas may be best known for “Big Oil.” But the oil that could some day make a dent in the country’s use of fossil fuels is small. Microscopic, in fact: algae. Literally and figuratively, this is green fuel.

“Algae is the ultimate in renewable energy,” Glen Kertz, president and CEO of Valcent Products, told CNN while conducting a tour of his algae greenhouse on the outskirts of El Paso. [...]

Algae are among the fastest growing plants in the world, and about 50 percent of their weight is oil. That lipid oil can be used to make biodiesel for cars, trucks, and airplanes. [...]

Kertz said he can produce about 100,000 gallons of algae oil a year per acre, compared to about 30 gallons per acre from corn; 50 gallons from soybeans.

100,000 versus 30 to 50 gallons. Even if this guy’s estimates are exaggerated by 100 times, the output is still 1,000 gallons.

More as it develops…

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008 and is filed under Energy, Environment, Ideas, Science, The World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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