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[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by Essay

I'm repeating this, but it's probably more appropriate here on this thread:
Michael, have you seen these numbers before?

Algae can produce up to 8000 gallons of biodiesel/acre. That's got to be better than a hydroxide-based scrubber, for soaking up CO2; don't you think?

Solix Biofuels hopes to generate green from algae - Denver Business Journal:



...and also from the article:
"And algae is prolific when it comes to oil production.
Experts estimate the organisms can make 8,000 to 10,000 gallons of oil per year per acre, compared to 50 or 60 gallons per year using soybeans, 20 gallons using corn, and 150 gallons using canola or rapeseeds."


p.s. I've seen numbers more like 100-400 gallons for corn, and up to 2000 gallons for coppiced poplar or willow;
but still that's no 8,000 to 10,000 gallons/acre!

Thanks,
~

Sorry I don't do sums
but it seems to me algae is a good way to go
1 I terms of land use
2.In terms of vertical farming
3.In terms of energy produced.

We just need to upscale the technology.

Algae: 'The ultimate in renewable energy' - CNN.com
Algal Fuel One Step Closer To Becoming A Conventional Oil Alternative : CleanTechnica
A Promising Oil Alternative: Algae Energy - washingtonpost.com

Algae from the ocean a sustainable energy source of the future
[Outline] ...MANHATTAN KAN. -- Research by two Kansas State University scientists ...K-State's Zhijian Z.J. Pei associate professor of industrial and ma...Algae are a diverse and simple group of organisms that live in or near...Pei and Yuan plan to identify attributes of algae and properties of ma...
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Date:6/26/2008[Outline] [RSS & Subscription]

MANHATTAN, KAN. -- Research by two Kansas State University scientists could help with the large-scale cultivation and manufacturing of oil-rich algae in oceans for biofuel.

K-State's Zhijian "Z.J." Pei, associate professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, and Wenqiao "Wayne" Yuan, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering, have received a $98,560 Small Grant for Exploratory Research from the National Science Foundation to study solid carriers for manufacturing algae biofuels in the ocean.

Algae are a diverse and simple group of organisms that live in or near water. Certain algal species are high in oil content that could be converted into such fuels as biodiesel, according to Pei and Yuan. algae also have several environmentally-friendly advantages over corn or other plants used for biofuels, including not needing soil or fresh water to grow.

Pei and Yuan plan to identify attributes of algae and properties of materials that enable growth of certain algae species on solid carriers. Solid carriers float on the water surface for algae to attach to and grow on.

"Not all materials are equally suitable to make these carriers," Yuan said. "Some materials are better for algal attachment and growth than others, and we will be identifying what those 'good' materials are."

The project could help with the design of major equipment for manufacturing algae biofuels from the ocean, including solid carriers, in-the-ocean algae harvesting equipment and oil extraction machines, Pei said.

"This research aims to develop a cost-effective process for growing algae on solid carriers in the ocean for biofuel manufacturing," he said. "If successful, it will greatly benefit the energy security of the United States, as well as society in general."

The research will be conducted with a two-step approach.

"Selected algae species will be grown on solid carriers in a simulated oce
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Algae from the ocean a sustainable energy source of ... ( MANHATTAN KAN. -- Research by two Ka...)