Green Star completes first phase of algae biodiesel demonstration
Green Star Products has finished the first phase of testing of an algae biodiesel pond in Montana. The first pond contains 40,000 liters of water but doesn't contain any algae yet. This phase involved controlling the water temperature, pH, evaporation and salinity. Green Star has combined some elements of a closed bioreactor system with a low-cost open pond setup. The first pond was assembled in under twelve hours. The enclosed pond was able to maintain water temperatures of at least 64°F even when outside temperatures dipped as low as 34°F, warm enough to maintain optimum algae growth. In the next phase they will be adding algae to the system to test growth. This design could provide for a very low cost way of growing algae which may well prove to be one of the most efficient and economical biofuel feedstocks.
[Source: Green Star USA via Green Car Congress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Howard Lee Harkness 10:00PM (5/13/2007)
"...which may well prove to be one of the most efficient and economical biofuel feedstocks."
I certainly think so. There is every reason to believe that algae biodiesel will be enough cheaper than dinodiesel that Big Oil will be frantically looking for a way to make it illegal, since they won't be able to compete with it any other way.
If they aren't able to use government coercion to force it out of the market, then it is highly likely that biodiesel will become the liquid fuel of choice in a very short time -- and US auto manufacturers who offer only gasoline ICEs are going to have a really tough time selling anything at all.
OTOH, batteries are starting to look pretty promising, too. Big Oil has some hard times ahead (I hope).
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Der Alte 1:01AM (5/14/2007)
I'm waiting for the first biodiesel plug in hybrid to show up on the market. To me this would be the ultimate in a sustainable vehicle that can meet all the expectations North Americans currently have of their automobiles. Honda may be a good candidate as they are talking of bringing their new diesels over to North America soon. I don't think the hybrid system Honda has however is as amenable to plug in modfication as the Toyota system. Toyota on the other hand seems stuck on the idea their hybrids can only work with a gasoline ICE.
Peugeot-Citroen seems to be the furthest along with development of diesel/hybrid powertrains....and I really like some of their chassis designs, but I don't think they plan on re-entering the North American market any time soon. Who know, GM may leap ahead with their E-flex design....but going by their track record they'll offer the diesel E-flex to Europe only and stick the domestic market with just the gas version.
If this algae biodiesel thing can actually work and produce notable quantities of fuel, it will be absolutely huge. Too many people know about the research to keep any successes quiet. Any attempt to crush this would be met with fierce opposition. Then again, people are falling for the hydrogen hoax hook line and sinker. The public needs to wake up and start questioning the mindless drivel the media and government are feeding them.
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