Algae's Role in the Move Toward Alternative Energy: Biomass Energy: Eco20/20

Algae's Role in the Move Toward Alternative Energy

In the quest to move away from our fossil fuel dependence and toward more earth-friendly choices, scientists are exploring every possible resource. Solar, wind, geothermal, and hydro electricity have been implemented in a number of areas around the globe and are being improved upon daily. Fuels are being made out of everything from corn to dirty diapers. Many scientists now are looking to a new source of energy, one that produces 15 times more power than other biofuels. This miracle resource is algae and a number of researchers are exploring the many ways this energy powerhouse can be used as a renewable fuel source.

At the Rochester Institute of Technology, scientists have discovered that algae grown in wastewater not only cleans the water of pathogens but also provides lipids that can be converted to an efficient biofuel. Algae grows faster than other biofuel feedstocks, making it more viable for mass production. Because of this, researchers believe this algae-based fuel could offset at least 50% of diesel currently used in equipment.

Other scientists at the College of William and Mary in Virginia have devised a floating flume in Lake Mataoka to harvest algae for energy production. The flume creates oxygen-deprived dead zones on the lake's surface and can yield 6-8 gallons of dry algae every two weeks. Research is currently underway to find the cheapest way to convert the algae to energy.

Biofuel is not the only way algae is contributing to the growth of green energy. Many experiments are underway to use algae in hydrogen production. OriginOil has discovered a process to harvest algae-created hydrogen that has an efficiency level similar to that of solar power. They believe that this is a major breakthrough in the search for a cheap renewable hydrogen source. And, since the algae also absorbs CO2 from the air, it provides a doubly good environmental impact.

Scientists at University of California at Berkeley are also pursuing algae-based hydrogen production. They have engineered a strain of green microalgae that produces hydrogen during the process of photosynthesis. Currently, the researchers are trying to reduce the energy cost from its current 30 cents per kilowatt hour down to 3 cents per kilowatt hour. Meanwhile, at Washington University in Missouri, scientists have recently discovered a strain of algae that produces hydrogen as a byproduct of its daily cycle. It also produces hydrogen in regular air, as opposed to the anaerobic conditions usually required, which makes hydrogen production more efficient.

With experiments such as these being conducted all over the world, it is a good bet that algae will become an increasingly important source of green energy. Since it is cheap, abundant, and easy to grow, it only makes sense that we continue to pursue its many uses.