Just saw this on the TV on CNN.

Supposedly, they're investigating which Algae have the highest oil content and absorb CO2 the fastest.

Continental airlines conducted a test flight run on algae based biofuel and it was successful.

Because of how easily algae is rapidly produced, it could be a very effective way of powering our future. Plus, algae consumes very large amounts of CO2, so the emissions we create could be used to help produce more energy.

Smart. Very, very smart.

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Wheelhouse

Yeah, that's nothing new....
I saw a documentary on that process years ago.

wikipedia says experimentation in that field started in 1978
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiesel#Algae_biodiesel

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Hold my beer and watch this...

i honestly didnt know about this. but its effing brilliant. would love to see this utilized sooner rather than later.

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Well since it's been in development for 40 years I wouldn't hold your breath.

Exxon mobile is working on it too.
http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/ene ... algae.aspx

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Hold my beer and watch this...

Sounds too cheap and easy to me. Anyways, then there will then be no need to put the masses to work; they will subsequently become bored and unruly allowing too much free time, which they will spend on independent thought. They will then demand their country and rights back. Revolt is certain! For your own safety, vote against algae NOW!!

Next thing you know they'll rumor you can grow your own medicines which have no side effects too(including marijuana).

Way to burst my bubble.

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Wheelhouse

heh...sorry.

They covered the subject on Modern Marvels: Environmental Tech II on the History channel in 2007

http://shop.history.com/detail.php?p=70212&v=All

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Hold my beer and watch this...

eh, well. ya know. at least they are working on it.

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White Tiger Farms has had the most success in this. Their facilities in Brazil were the foundation upon the ethonal success we see there now due to sugar cane. Algea is the key and actually is already in production for U.S. refineries here in the states, particularly in New Mexico where White Tiger Farms already has a plan of action to setup facilities that will produce an estimated 1.7 trillion pounds of various natural oils and fuel base products based purely on algea.

It takes time and money to get this all done, but it is coming along. Brazil's foresight on the transportation model they have developed is the blueprint for the rest of the world.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

algae doesn't work. algae has to be grown in really controlled environments, because if it is out in an open pond, one bird pooping on it (nitrogen) will wreck it. the highest oil producing algae also grows the slowest- you can't get the best of both worlds, they've been trying to cross breed it for about 15 years. storage is a pain, too- what do you do with an acre of algae? it's not like crops where you sell the fruits and use the rest of the plant. it's incredibly expensive.

no, the best form of biofuel right now is biodiesel or methane digesters at farms. as far as alternative energy goes, up here, solar is by far the most effective form of alternative energy, both photovoltaic and solar hot water. after that, wood gasification is the best bet. wind is a distant fourth. at fully optimized levels, windpower is only 59% efficient, and due to turbulence, friction, etc.., we never get even close to that.

in all seriousness though, the best way for work on this is to get people to start getting off the grid on our own. PV cells should have a federal tax credit that rivals the homebuyer's. however, if you do want to really be grid free, you should invest in SEVERAL systems- solar PV, wood gasification, and maybe a small 1-2 kW wind turbine.

Good info. Pat. Here I thought Pat "Green" was your REAL name.

it is, isn't that the funny part? i'm like a walking pun

Possibly the most efficient means of energy reduction is world-wide population reduction (in the form of smaller families...one or two children per). Our world of ever increasing energy demands will never change, only continue to consume larger amounts of energy. Cheaper, more efficient, and more ecologically friendly fuels will merely mean more consumption. Our corporate world could give two shits about energy consumption. And most of the world's middle class are too busy squeezing out a living. Unless a concerted, committed world wide effort is set in motion, eg. world wide cooperation (not likely), do-gooders like Al "the sky is falling" Gore, will continue to spout off about how everyone is ruining the planet from his limo and his jet. But then again, worldwide population reduction would dictate the same world-wide cooperation.....eventually Mother Nature will prevail and reduce the population. Until then, 90% of the people will be concerned, 70% will bitch, 30% will attempt, 2% will do something, and 10% will thwart that 2%. I say, lets use up the fossil fuels as fast as possible until the supply is depleted (BTW, in the next few years, world consumption will surpass production..HOLY SHIT! we had better get a military presence to the Middle East to secure our share....), then something will have to be done or humanity will perish leaving the Earth to return its normality of 4.5 billion years, and the few humans left will evolve into the next species. In a couple of million years from now, Archeologists will uncover remains of a great city near the ocean.

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I try to think, but nuttin happens.......Curley Howard
There is no past as it exists merely as a slippery bond tying the memories of the past to the dreams of the future.............Me
If we started life as an old person and lived until we were young, we would eventually finish off fucked as an orgasm.......George Carlin

The algae thing has been, as xcheck said/showed, in development for a LONG time... I believe DARPA started researching it, but the failures there were growing it on large ponds. I read an article in PopSci or Time about a researcher/bioengineer that decided to grow it in bags, hanging vertically... really just putting a new twist on what DARPA was doing. DARPA decided it wasn't feasible due to the amount of space the ponds took up; vertical bags reduce the space needed and increase surface area hundreds of times over.

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I don't disagree with you on Algea, early on in its infancy and needs much work. But, I am happy the industry is exploring options.
Also, I agree on your assesment of going off grid. My company sells this equipment and we have installation teams nationally. Right now, this year and next, is truly the year to purchase, while prices are still low. Good post PatGreen.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

Ah, the real core of the problem. By the way, 2005, the world surpassed supply and demand sustainability. In the month of July 2005 the world orderd up 102 million barrels of oil, supply never exceeded 88 million barrels. The problem is already here for transportation. As for coal, supplies are larger than oil, but the United States now sends 17% of its mined coal to China for consumption, that number is expected to tripple over the next 12 years.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

1. the problem is it's not in an infant stage. it's been researched for like 30 years.
2. what company- do you think they'd be interested in hiring an intern for spring? or a train-to- hire? it would be awesome if you could put me in contact with them.
3. in july 2005, what really happened was that demand exceeded supply. the only way for oil to be truly sustainable was if we used it in micro amounts since it was mined in the late 1800s. in the late 70's we actually hit the maximum extraction/ease point of oil. we've been on the downside since then, but government subsidies make it less of a punch.
4. yeah, coal- they're preaching that now. stupid as hell. doesn't produce more energy but release more toxins. also significantly more CO2 and other EPA criteria pollutants, like particulates. we go from one poison to the next. GO SOLAR