Bill Gates is plunging his hands into pond scum. (Biofuel from Algae)
We are either going to save the earth or profit from it. Some will argue that biofuel (Food for Gas) just doesn’t make sense but that’s not stopping some rich people from investing big money into this technology. Below you will find both sides of the argument. Should we push to stop the exchange of food for gas or jump on the money train?
Posted by Keith Johnson (FULL STORY)
Cascades Investments LLC, Mr. Gates’ personal investment vehicle, is backing Sapphire Energy, a start up working towards a commercial-scale facility to produce oil from algae. And by all indications, he is not trying to save the world from its petro-addiction. He’s trying to make some money.
Little known outside of green-energy circles, Sapphire Energy is at the forefront of an effort to use single-celled organisms to turn out refinery-ready oil that can be either mixed with conventional crude or turned directly into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. There is still significant skepticism that Sapphire, or any of its competitors, can overcome fundamental problems of mass-producing a competitive fuel from algae. These problems include: finding the right algae strain and showing it can mass produce oil that can compete on cost with crude oil.
Still, the San Diego based company is attracting some impressive investors.
100’s of Millions are being invested!
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Posted by Paul – Pickens Plan Member…
As long as the total conversion of sunlight into organic matter sits at the dismally low 0.01% efficiency, there will be limits on food & fuel. Once that hurdle is overcome then there will be little need to worry. "Have you hugged a plant biologist today?"
The algae folks can brag that their little friends are tens of time more productive than corn of any other "C-4" photo-synthetic plant... and it is, but algae is the high performer that pulls the average up to the 'dismal' rating mentioned.
When we find a plant that grows like it came out of the Twilight Zone, then we can talk about 'efficient' energy production from biomass. In the mean time it's a tough call as to whether the nutrients (fixed nitrogen etc.) in 'waste' are more valuable than the BTU's if it were all to be converted to fuel (CH4).
What do you think about all this?
Luis Garcia
luis@kisstheearthgreen.com
(540) 320-1045
Posted by Keith Johnson (FULL STORY)
Cascades Investments LLC, Mr. Gates’ personal investment vehicle, is backing Sapphire Energy, a start up working towards a commercial-scale facility to produce oil from algae. And by all indications, he is not trying to save the world from its petro-addiction. He’s trying to make some money.
Little known outside of green-energy circles, Sapphire Energy is at the forefront of an effort to use single-celled organisms to turn out refinery-ready oil that can be either mixed with conventional crude or turned directly into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. There is still significant skepticism that Sapphire, or any of its competitors, can overcome fundamental problems of mass-producing a competitive fuel from algae. These problems include: finding the right algae strain and showing it can mass produce oil that can compete on cost with crude oil.
Still, the San Diego based company is attracting some impressive investors.
100’s of Millions are being invested!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by Paul – Pickens Plan Member…
As long as the total conversion of sunlight into organic matter sits at the dismally low 0.01% efficiency, there will be limits on food & fuel. Once that hurdle is overcome then there will be little need to worry. "Have you hugged a plant biologist today?"
The algae folks can brag that their little friends are tens of time more productive than corn of any other "C-4" photo-synthetic plant... and it is, but algae is the high performer that pulls the average up to the 'dismal' rating mentioned.
When we find a plant that grows like it came out of the Twilight Zone, then we can talk about 'efficient' energy production from biomass. In the mean time it's a tough call as to whether the nutrients (fixed nitrogen etc.) in 'waste' are more valuable than the BTU's if it were all to be converted to fuel (CH4).
What do you think about all this?
Luis Garcia
luis@kisstheearthgreen.com
(540) 320-1045
Views: 1
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Anthony Fernald Sr. on -
I wish I had Bill Gates Money :o}
I like the pond oil -
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Permalink Reply by Luis Garcia VA District 9 Leader on -
Mike when can I show you a way to make some extra cash from home?
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Permalink Reply by Paul on -
It's been a long time phantasy(sic) of mine to be mentioned in another article with Bill Gates. :^) The last time was almost 20 years ago 1989 when we were developing tools for the Microsoft Basic Compiler ver. 6.0 and QuickBasic 4.0
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Permalink Reply by Luis Garcia VA District 9 Leader on
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I'm always interested in whatever works. We can no more rule bio out that rule out hydroelectric. All things must be at least consideed. Kenn
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Permalink Reply by michael maldonado on -
Luis, When your talking Biofuel. Are we talking, taking all the corn from the corn fields and making fuel? If i'm wrong let me know. Anyway if that is the case it just doesn't make sense. With all the other options out there why take up a large chunk of the worlds food. and the way I understand it that would hardley put a dent in the supply we use now.
Anyway Luis, I like your discussions and I'll check back now and then.
Keep on keepin' on.
MIKE -
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Permalink Reply by Luis Garcia VA District 9 Leader on
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We're talking all kinds of biofuels but it seems that everyone including businesses are getting away from corn. The article above talks about algae. But I have posted articles about using trash, human waste and Cellulosic ethanol (ceetol) is a biofuel produced from wood, grasses, or the non-edible parts of plants.
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Permalink Reply by mike on -
The goal has to be to both care for our world and to profit from it. I think that everyone will agree on that basic concept but it is the interpretation of it which trips people up. When the Bible says that humans are supposed to "dress and keep" the world I think that it doesn't mean rape and pillaging its resources. It means that we are Stewards of the planet and caring for the planet is inherent to that concept. "Green" doesn't mean you have to be some kind of stereotypical athiest, ultra liberal fanatic. It is obviously a concept that is simply the basic platform for developing our world and is as much a christian principle as it is one of the "green" movement.
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Permalink Reply by Luis Garcia VA District 9 Leader on
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Amen to that mike!
Good referencing of the Bible to make your point... -
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Permalink Reply by John Moats on -
I'm for anything that reduces our dependence on foreign oil. Lots of people run Bill Gates into the ground. But in reality the man is brilliant. He has become one of the worlds largest Philanthropists. If he seeks to make some money off developing algae fuels cool with me. If successful he would probably feed a significant amount of those monies back into charity anyways.
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Permalink Reply by Luis Garcia VA District 9 Leader on
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I agree with you John. There is an arguement by some that using food for fuel just doesn't make sense. In the case of corn I agree. But many new technologies are being tested so that we don't use our lands and fertierlizers to produce fuel. There are ways to produce biofuels using trash, human waste and Cellulosic ethanol (ceetol) is a biofuel produced from wood, grasses, or the non-edible parts of plants.
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