Just doing a bit of research for a biodiesel presentation that our group is doing Nov 12th, looking for new FAQ information, and luckily for me, this summary of algae 'debunking' just came over the burnveggies list. We often get questions from people who are 'starry-eyed' about the idea of algae as a perfect solution which is what the writer was responding to.... mark
>Message: 8 >From: "aronow/turner" >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 09:51:36 -0800 >Subject: [Burnveggies] Re: Algae > > > >Hey folks ... I've been investigating the algae idea. Before we get all = >idealistic about algae, lets get more information. First of all, you = >might want to read the close-out report of the NREL algae project at = >www.ott.doe.gov/biofuels/pdfs/biodiesel_from_algae_ps.pdf . You must = >keep in mind: > >1) it takes LOTS of water, in open ponds, that evaporate quickly >2) it requires A LOT of land >3) algae must be "triggered" into producing large amounts of oil, so it = >must get stressed somehow. =20 >4) about 1/3 of the algae in the NREL project was genetically modified, = >which is not good for all the birds who come to feast on the ponds >5) the cost of making oil from algae is about the same as making oil = >from soybeans > >I'm not totally opposed to trying to make biodiesel from algae, but I = >think it's only realistic in a few special areas with LOTS of water and = >land that's not good for anything else. I think the scientists at NREL = >spent many years trying to make this work, and I appreciate their = >research. But for the time being, I think our efforts are better = >focused on efficiently utilizing available recycled oil sources, then = >using canola instead of soy, because it's almost 3 times as = >"oleaginous". > >Louisa Aronow > >- ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/index.php?list=biofuel Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
