Kieth, I understand what you are saying, but if the process can be industrialised & use waste CO2 from power plants, it would be worthwhile: even tho it might not scale down.
regards Doug On Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:12:36 Keith Addison wrote: > Hello James > > >I'm off to investigate a an algae to oil operation in Phx. I work for a > >large SW US util that has produced biod from algae. > > Well that's a little more detail, but not a lot. Previous: > > >> Here are a few links. I've driven an E250 van that ran on biodiesel > > >> made > > >> > > > >from algae oil.. > >> > >> Well that would be a first. It needs a little more detail please > >> James, or a lot more detail. Considering that by all accounts there > >> > > > is no such thing as biodiesel from algae apart from a few lab samples > >> > >> and some pilot projects that never get any further, and zero > >> production - but LOTS of hype! Please see the links in my reply to > >> Doug. > > Now you add this: > >The big question is how efficient are the oil extraction methods.. > > So I'm guessing you ran your E250 van on a somewhat bigger than usual > lab sample. Progress, hey! :-) > > But still no real-world production of biodiesel from algae. > > >And there appears to > >be an increasing number of algae to oil ventures springing up by the > >month. > > That's been going on for two or three years, but it's what I said, > lab samples, pilot projects that don't go anywhere and LOTS of hype, > plus a patent or two and a few scams also. That's why I stopped > posting stuff about algae here, and stopped encouraging small-scale > attempts, which I'd done previously, and also why Biopact took the > same stance over algae projects. > > <http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/msg69384.html> > [Biofuel] An in-depth look at biofuels from algae - 1 > > <http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/msg69383.html> > [Biofuel] An in-depth look at biofuels from algae - 2 > > Pie in the sky. > > >Here are a few.. > ><http://www.algaeatwork.com/technology> > ><http://www.algaelink.com/distributors.htm> > ><http://www.originoil.com/originoil/originoil-home.html> > > Same, seen them before. > > >The big question is how efficient are the oil extraction methods.. Algae > >can also allegedly produce ethanol (75% oil / 25 % ethanol). And using > >the CO2 from biomass / biogas may have great promise for agricultural > >applications. > > I think the big question is, once the efficiency problems are solved > (if ever), what sort of technology will it require? All the > indications are that it will be high-tech stuff, for industry, > perhaps including GMO strains. Not Appropriate Technology, and not > for backyarders. In other words, not very useful, IMHO. > > Best > > Keith > > >What I find disturbing is that this alternative as well as most of the > >rest are antique. Examples are : > > > > * Jimmy Carter MIT algae > oil 1979 > > * Stirling Engines Ford Phillips 1975 (modern high pressure / high > > temp incarnation) > > * Photovoltaics 1950's (HCPV is still under development; close but > > no cigar) > > * Geothermal 1920's one of Tesla's favorites > > * Wind > > * Solar Thermal AC..(ammonia / lithium bromide) 1974 > > > >There has not been a real break thru in alternatives in quite some time... > > > >Regards, > >JQ > > > >Keith Addison wrote: > >> Hello James > >> > >>> Doug, > >>> > > >> Here are a few links. I've driven an E250 van that ran on biodiesel > > >> made > > >> > > > >from algae oil.. > >> > >> Well that would be a first. It needs a little more detail please > >> James, or a lot more detail. Considering that by all accounts there > >> is no such thing as biodiesel from algae apart from a few lab samples > >> and some pilot projects that never get any further, and zero > >> production - but LOTS of hype! Please see the links in my reply to > >> Doug. > >> > >>> This process was revived by MIT and Jimmy Carter in > >>> 1979. > >> > >> In which John Benemann was one of the lead scientists, and he is > >> completely sceptical. See: > >> > >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/msg70264.html> > >> > >>> And is the most bang for the alt energy buck anywhere.. > >>> > >>> <http://web.mit.edu/erc/spotlights/alg.html> > >>> > >>> <http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2006/12/arizona_public_.html > >>>> > >>> > > > Where is the production? > >> > >> Best > >> > >> Keith > >> > >>> Regards, > >>> > > >> JQ > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> doug wrote: > >>>> > >>>> Hi, > >>>> I ran into a chap travelling around Australia extolling the virtues > >>>> of running on SVO. > >>>> He is to email me more details, but apparently there is a project > >>>> in Australia involved with oil from Algae, aparently using CO2 > >>>> feedstock from > >>>> generation equipment. > >>>> I googled to try to find more info, but only found foreign > >>>>references from > >>>> ~2005. Has anyone heard anything about this project? > >>>> > > >> > regards Doug > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuel mailing list > Biofuel@sustainablelists.org > http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 > messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
