Is algae biofuel feasible?

Algae biofuels may provide a viable alternative to fossil fuels; however, this technology must overcome a number of hurdles before it can compete in the fuel market and be broadly deployed. Although there is much excitement about the potential of algae biofuels, much work is still required in the field.

Is algae fuel the future?

One of the fuel sources of the future is algae, small aquatic organisms that convert sunlight into energy and store it in the form of oil. Scientists and engineers at the Energy Department and its national laboratories are researching the best strains of algae and developing the most efficient farming practices.

Does biofuel Have a Future?

Fuels such as biodiesel made from rapeseed oil or ethanol made from corn were once viewed as the apex of future low-carbon transport. In 2011, the International Energy Agency forecast that biofuels could make up 27 percent of global transportation fuels by 2050. Transport fuels have a 14 percent target to hit by 2030.

How can algae biofuel have the potential to be the new fuel for the future?

Algae has emerged as a promising feedstock for future biofuels due to its high energy content, energy yield per acre, fast growth and ability to grow in water of varying quality. Because of its high energy content, oil from algae can be refined into biodiesel, green gasoline, jet fuel or ethanol.

Why is Algae Biofuel?

Advantages for Biofuels A significant advantage of using algae for biofuels is that it need not displace farmland used for growing food sources. The Department of Energy reports that algae have the potential to yield at least 30 times more energy than land-based crops currently used to produce biofuels.

Is it possible that green algae biofuel will replace fossil fuels in the future?

The plants certainly have a future if that potential can be harnessed. If enough green algae could be produced to cover half the state of Maine, for example, it could supply enough “green oil” to replace all of the petroleum used in the United States right now.

Why algae is the future?

Algae is the most important organism on earth as it provides nearly all of earth’s oxygen which we need to breathe! Fuels used in cars and aeroplanes may be powered by algae in the future. Algae can also be grown as feed for animals and as fertiliser to spread on soil and help crops grow.

Will green algae replace fossil fuels in the future?

Why biofuel is the future?

Increased biofuel demand has contributed to higher world food and feed prices. Biofuels will likely be part of a portfolio of solutions to high energy prices, including conservation, more efficient energy use, and use of other alternative fuels.

Why biodiesel is the future?

Growing pressure to lower emissions and replace fossil fuels is leading to biggest ever range of biofuels such as ethanol, biodiesel and bio-methanol and other green fuels. Future of Biofuels 2020 is set to bring industry stakeholders, unique content, workshops and networking.

What is algae based biofuel?

Algae fuel, algal biofuel, or algal oil is an alternative to liquid fossil fuels that uses algae as its source of energy-rich oils. Also, algae fuels are an alternative to commonly known biofuel sources, such as corn and sugarcane.

How do algae make biofuel?

Algal oils, just like oils produced by soy, canola, palm and the less-known jatropha plants, can be made good biodiesel feedstocks through transesterification. In that process, a catalyst creates a biodiesel fuel (consisting of fatty acid methyl esters) by hydrolyzing and methylating fatty acids in the oils.

Is algae-based biofuel the future of fuel?

According to many scientists, algae-based biofuel has the potential to be at least a stop-gap in the struggle for a better and cleaner world, as we most certainly will not be able to ditch combustion engines in many years to come.

What are the benefits of algae as a fuel feedstock?

Another major benefit of algae as a fuel feedstock is its massive consumption of carbon dioxide. In the Sapphire process, 1 kilogram of algae biomass uses 1.8 kilograms of CO2. About 50 percent of that algal biomass is oil, so the production of each gallon of oil consumes 13 to 14 kilograms of the greenhouse gas, Zenk said.

Is algae fuel better than jet fuel?

Zenk said the test flight showed that algae fuel gets better mileage than petroleum-based jet fuel. “We noticed a 4 percent increase in energy density in the fuels because of the lower-burning temperatures in the engine itself, which resulted in greater fuel mileage,” he said. But more work needs to be done.

What is the most energy-efficient biofuel?

Right now, conventional oil reigns supreme, topping out with a ratio of 100 BTU of energy produced for every 1 spent. At its most energy-intensive, conventional oil is 15:1. Currently, the EROI for algae-based biofuel is 1.06:1, or barely efficient.