[Schadenfreude]

Link

[web]http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/05/airbus-and-othe.html[/web]

I sort of find myself rooting for algae-based fuels. Not so much as an "Algae will save us" argument; more like, "Hey, this is a really interesting, cutting-edge engineering problem which looks cool as hell and whose time seems ripe".

Scientists like Craig Ventner's Teams are just beginning to develop synthetic life forms from pure chemical stocks alone (not simply modifying pre-existing life-forms). And these artificial life-forms need not hew to natural design paradigms. Their life processes can be modified/exaggerated to satisy human desires.

So, rather than thinking of algae-based fuel production as an attempt by people to harness a naturally occurring life form, I look at Algae Fuels as an attempt to engineer trillions of self-replicating photosynthetic factories which are designed for a specific artificial environment. Essentially, a bio-machine whose principles of operation are borrowed from Nature and which converts raw chemical stock into liquid fuels.

I've read over the naysayers but don't find anything compelling in their arguments that indicates that this pursuit is worthless. I think it is bound to be explored because of our encroaching dire energy economics. And I think there will probably be some significant advances in the field.

[Cashmere]

In unrelated news, I'm betting that Scarlett Johansen will replace my ex-girlfriend . . .

but I'm not holding my breath for that either.

[Hagakure_Leofman]

I once flew in a 747 to Bangkok.

We had to circle for 20 or 30 minutes while a runway became available. What struck me was the endless rice paddies visible outside the plane as we circled. They had a metronomic regularity that was bizarre.

Now imagine sitting in a plane while waiting to taxi to the runway. That unique sound that a jet engine makes while idling. Then, the explosive thrust during take off. The deafening roar of the engines as they lift the massive weight of the plane off the ground.

Now picture algae.

I gotta say, from my perspective, the airlines as we know them are finished.

[cipi604]

If you take into acount the cost of algae-fuel , which is supposed to be 30% of the used fuel by 2030, and the price of oil by 2030, you have 1/3 algae-cost fuel and 2/3 extreme-high-cost fuel... so I second Cashmere and Hagakure_Leofman.

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', 'I')n unrelated news, I'm betting that Scarlett Johansen will replace my ex-girlfriend . . .
.

[Schadenfreude]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', 'I')n unrelated news, I'm betting that Scarlett Johansen will replace my ex-girlfriend . . .

but I'm not holding my breath for that either.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Schadenfreude', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', 'I')n unrelated news, I'm betting that Scarlett Johansen will replace my ex-girlfriend . . .

but I'm not holding my breath for that either.

[Dezakin]

I doubt algae simply because the capital and energy efficiency for making synthetic fuel from CO2, water, and nuclear power/sunlight/wind is better than using algae.

[ushoys]

"with pond scum? Wedding invitation? RSVP and btw bring a rag? Bad Japanese sci-fi, if you ask me"

But nobody did ask you about this did they? Another valueless post from another one rated as 'Expert' on these forums.

[Gazzatrone]

It'll never work. As you know full well that, waiting just around the corner will be some jumped up deluded liberal pressure group out to bash the idea as it infringes on simple celled life form's right to a decent existence.

They'll have done their research you know and []iwill[/i] conclude that algae feels pain as much as we do

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', 'O')n the other hand just what are you qualifications for judging this post valueless?

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Dezakin', 'I') doubt algae simply because the capital and energy efficiency for making synthetic fuel from CO2, water, and nuclear power/sunlight/wind is better than using algae.

[frankthetank]

I give it about a -100% chance of happening. I too believe its just propaganda too show the sheep that everything is fine. We are going to fly your fat asses with algae. Good god... We are doomed

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('EnergyUnlimited', 'O')ne have to be brain dead not to realize that there is not enough CO2 in atmosphere to produce high yields of algi fuels as was done in laboratory settings.
That is not about farking about with yield of photosynthesis, it is only about lack of sufficient amounts of raw material - CO2 in atmosphere.

[mstevens]

So who should we believe? Some of the most successful and innovative companies in the aviation industry run by people who have their entire life bet on the success of said companies, or a forum poster who has absolutely no background in anything related to this issue?

[mstevens]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Dezakin', 'I') doubt algae simply because the capital and energy efficiency for making synthetic fuel from CO2, water, and nuclear power/sunlight/wind is better than using algae.

[Dezakin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mstevens', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Dezakin', 'I') doubt algae simply because the capital and energy efficiency for making synthetic fuel from CO2, water, and nuclear power/sunlight/wind is better than using algae.

[TomSaidak]

One part of me likes the pond scum approach, but turning trash to oil would seem to be a better approach, and kerosene (aka jet fuel) is a direct product of thermal depolymerization. While I have seen one estimate of 60 billion bbl per year for TDP, I have only been able to find about 5 billion bbl per year for US waste streams. Algae seems like a good plan B if TDP cannot carry the load for all oil.

Every problem has its solution, and every solution has its problems...

[Carlhole]

Darpa, Dronemaker to Brew Algae-Based Jet Fuel

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Wired', 'P')entagon way-out research arm Darpa and Predator dronemaker General Atomics are teaming up to try to turn algae into jet fuel. The Defense Department announced the $20 million deal earlier in the week.

The idea is to "demonstrate and ultimately commercialize the affordable production" of an algae-based surrogate for JP-8 jet fuel by 2010. The work is going to be spread all over the country, from the Scripps Institutions of Oceanography near San Diego to Hawaii Bio Energy in Honolulu to the University of North Dakota's Energy and Environmental research center. General Atomics also seems to have pulled down an extra $4 million in Congressional pork money to set up a plant-fuel research facility at Eastern Kentucky University.

It's not Darpa's only effort to come up with alternative fuels. The agency has given millions to a Brooklyn-based professor to look into turning trash into "bioplastics," and then turning those plastics into fuel. Darpa has an program to make biofuels out of crops like corn, efficiently. And the agency recently kick-started a $4.5 million project to figure out how to transform coal into liquid fuel cheaply.