Biofuel From Algae Holds Up Against Other Alternative Fuels

Biofuel from algae is not a loud noise in the challenge to find
alternative fuels. But it will be. Algae biofuel offers us a great
deal of hope in our battle against fossil fuels.


Hybrid electric automobiles typically steal most of the spotlight when
it comes to the idea of ‘green’ vehicles, cars which reduce their
environmental impact by consuming small amounts of gasoline or
limiting the emissions produced by their operation. Gasoline /
electric hybrids certainly lead this charge, but bringing up the rear
are an entire host of alternative fuels which promise to provide a
similar driving experience with either ultra-clean emissions or no
emissions at all. The contenders include ethanol produced from corn or
other vegetable matter, biodiesel which also originates from plants,
or even propane and natural gas.

One type of fuel which rarely sees mention also happens to be one
which appears to offer a great deal of promise for the future. Algae,
a type of plant life that is found in abundance in oceans all over the
world, can actually produce a significant amount of natural oil that
can be used as a fuel source. Marine algae is not familiar to most
North American drivers, but in Asian countries where the population
has a closer relationship to the sea algae and other types of ocean
agriculture are nothing new. Recent investments in the development of
algae-based fuels have been brought on by the increase in fossil fuel
prices, and some of the results have been staggering.

It turns out that not only is marine algae a viable fuel source, but
it also packs a much more concentrated punch than other biofuels. In
fact, it is estimated that compared to the most potent fuel crops
grown on land, algae can squeeze 30 times more energy out of a single
acre. Advances in marine agriculture have created algae farms where
special growing tubes can help produce 100,000 gallons of oil out of a
single acre.

These impressive numbers have drawn a lot of attention in the
alternative fuel community, and for good reason. Aquatic agriculture
does not use huge amounts of landmass like corn growing does, allowing
that area to be put to better use growing foodstuffs or sustaining
livestock. Algae is also fairly inexpensive to cultivate, requiring
only water, sunlight and the right conditions to propagate quickly. It
can also use water that has been deemed too polluted for standard
agriculture without affecting its yield - even raw sewage. This helps
to ensure that algae growth will not absorb resources which could be
better used in other areas of the economy.

The price of breaking free from the traditional fossil fuel chains
that encircle the world’s economy is innovation, and looking towards
algae-base initiatives seems to point towards an answer that is not
only effective, but also non-destructive to the environment. The rapid
growth of algae helps to ensure that establishing an infrastructure of
oil-producing plants would take a very reasonable amount of time, and
its hardiness means that even cities, historically not associated with
agriculture would be able to house algae production facilities.
Mankind emerged from the ocean millions of years ago, and it seems as
though the circle of evolution has been closed once again as we now
look back to the sea for the answer to our future.

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