Algae To Oil - Renewed Interests from 1980's Research

[Mayhim]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0115132840.htm


"Soybeans produce about 50 gallons of oil per acre per year, and canola produces about 130, he said. Algae, however, produces about 4,000 gallons per acre a year, and he predicted it will go far beyond that. "

[Erdrick]

I am sorry. I have to put forth my sordid opinion.

We are heading into an age where most of the population of the world will be car owners. We all know by now that the oil wells will eventually dry up. Probably sooner than later. What comes next? Everyone has their own ideas.

I have one of my own though. Why not go back to a more natural lifestyle? Scrap the cars. Dump the t.v.s Cut the heat and A/C. Realize that supermarkets were a short lived experiment. The world we know is something that was created within a couple centuries. It is a blip in the history of humans. Chances are, thousands of years from now, the only reminders we will have of our age will be crumbling buildings and highways.

You can't grow forever. Limits are reached. You clear one hurdle and another appears. They eventually get to be too tall, and you falter, then fall.

I question whether we really need new advances like algae biodiesel... Or maybe I am just in a bad mood today.

[Mayhim]

We all have our place and time in the sun. Ours is fleeting on the timescale of eternity. Enjoy it while you're here and do the best you can.

And I hope you feel better soon.

[theclencher]

Originally Posted by Erdrick

We are heading into an age where most of the population of the world will be car owners. We all know by now that the oil wells will eventually dry up. Probably sooner than later. What comes next? Everyone has their own ideas.

I have one of my own though. Why not go back to a more natural lifestyle? Scrap the cars. Dump the t.v.s Cut the heat and A/C. Realize that supermarkets were a short lived experiment. The world we know is something that was created within a couple centuries. It is a blip in the history of humans. Chances are, thousands of years from now, the only reminders we will have of our age will be crumbling buildings and highways.

You can't grow forever. Limits are reached. You clear one hurdle and another appears. They eventually get to be too tall, and you falter, then fall.

I question whether we really need new advances like algae biodiesel... Or maybe I am just in a bad mood today.

I concur. I imagine how much longer humanity could enjoy the party we have going now, then realize it is the damned breeders that are ruining it for all. OH, but don't dare talk bad about breeders, don't even bring the subject up! For some reason it's prohibited, taboo, forbidden, hush hush, verboten!

[GasSavers_Ryland]

How green can we make our greed? I'm all for finding better ways to do things, but whenever I see someone selling bio-diesel equipment, or someone who is running their vehicle on veggie oil, it seems like they are driving something like an F250, simply because the fuel is cheap or free.

[theclencher]

I'm planning on using waste veggie oil with an '84 Escort diesel... with smaller things to come?

[cems70]

Originally Posted by Ryland

How green can we make our greed? I'm all for finding better ways to do things, but whenever I see someone selling bio-diesel equipment, or someone who is running their vehicle on veggie oil, it seems like they are driving something like an F250, simply because the fuel is cheap or free.

I just came back from a 9 day cruise on a 142,000 ton Royal Caribbean ship. Its 6 or 12 (? can't remember how many) V-12 diesel engines produce 103,000 horespower - 55,000 for propulsion, 47,000 for electricity and all other needs - and burn 69,000 gallons of diesel at its maximum speed of 23.5 knots. Royal Caribbean is the single largest consumer of biodiesel in the Eastern United States and it's not nearly enough to power all their ships exclusively with biodiesel. When I got back from the cruise, I felt very guilty because it just didn't sit right with me that all this biodiesel is being used for non-essential purposes. Yes, vacations are important, but I think a better use for biodiesel is to heat homes, produce electricity for necessary things, and power buses that transport people to work.

[Mayhim]

Originally Posted by theclencher

I concur. I imagine how much longer humanity could enjoy the party we have going now, then realize it is the damned breeders that are ruining it for all. OH, but don't dare talk bad about breeders, don't even bring the subject up! For some reason it's prohibited, taboo, forbidden, hush hush, verboten!

By all means, please expand upon your definition of, and opposition to, 'breeders.' I'm interested.

[theclencher]

It's quite simple, anything more than 2 kids is more than replacement-level reproduction.

[korax123]

Pretty interesting seems like it would do well. I wonder how hard the process is to make the fuel.