What plants might be grown, just for bio-fuel?

[Michaelangelica]

Genomics Of Plant-based Biofuels

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Genomics Of Plant-based Biofuels

ScienceDaily (Aug. 14, 2008) — Genomics is accelerating improvements for converting plant biomass into biofuel—as
The Nature Review goes on to list the feedstock genomes, microbial "biomass degraders," and "fuel producers" completed or in progress.
These include the first tree genome completed—that of the poplar Populus trichocarpa and other plants in the sequencing queue, such as soybean, switchgrass, sorghum, eucalyptus, cassava, and foxtail millet. In addition, Rubin points to oil-producing algae as an alternative source for biodiesel production—with the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, as just one of several algal species that has been characterized for their ability to efficiently capture and convert sunlight into energy.

"Given the daunting magnitude of fossil fuel used for transportation, we will likely have to draw from several different sources to make an appreciable impact with cellulosic biofuels, all of which will in some significant way will be informed by genomics," says Rubin.

"Toward this end, rapid new sequencing methods and the large-scale genomics previously applied to sequencing the human genome are being exploited by bioenergy researchers to design next-generation biofuels, higher-chain alcohols and alkanes, with higher energy content than petroleum and more adaptable to existing infrastructure."

Algae from fish shit

Energy from

Listen Now - 16082008 |Download Audio - 16082008

In tropical North Queensland scientists are using an innovative method to produce bio diesel by feeding marine micro algae with the fish excretions.
The algae use fish farm slurry as nutrients to produce oil.
In fact, no other crop produces as much bio diesel as micro algae.
Beside their oil production the micro algae also produce carbohydrates and proteins that could be used as stock feed.

Science Show - 16August2008 - Energy from excrements
I wonder if this could be done in a small village scale or backyard?

[Michaelangelica]

What do you think of this article
Gasoline is toxic waste - literally

Friday October 3, 2008, 3:05 pm
We don't need gasoline, we never needed it

Facts: Scientific and historical about gasoline and alcohol

1. The original automobiles ran on alcohol because when they were invented gasoline was not available.

2. Rockefeller spent $4 million (that we know of) to promote Prohibition, a ban on alcohol manufacturing in the US that started in 1919 just as the car industry was taking off.

3. When Prohibition was lifted in 1933, gasoline stations were ubiquitous and most engines ran on gasoline only.

4. Alcohol can be manufactured locally and on a community level from renewable plant material for $1 per gallon.

5. The growing of plant material for alcohol would have no effect on the price of food.

6. The growing of plants for fuel would more than neutralize the carbon created by burning alcohol for fuel.

7. In Brazil, over 50% of new cars sold can already run on 100% alcohol.

8. Producing alcohol from plant material is incredibly energy efficient.

9. The oil companies aggressively promote garbage science to deceive the public into believing that alcohol fuels: a) will cause starvation, b) are uneconomical, and c) are net polluters.

10. Gasoline is a high toxic material.

11. It is entirely unneeded to fuel our cars.

12. Oil companies like Chevron have pressured PBS, commercial TV networks and other news media to keep this basic information from the public for decades - and the censorship continues to this day

hey loooky here---The fraud is this: 'We need gasoline'. The... - Care2 News Network.

[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:

Originally Posted From: Solix
"Most of the startup companies working on this are using the basic science on algae that NREL did many years ago," NREL spokesman George Douglas said. "Everybody's looking for the same thing -- How to grow and process the algae and harvest the oil and process the oil. You can grow algae on marginal lands, or in the ocean. It reproduces quickly, doesn't take up cropland or other spaces. And it absorbs carbon dioxide."

...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,
~

[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...)

[Michaelangelica]

Aussies reckon tequila plant's worth a shot in biofuel search


Agave plants grow outside the Mexican town of Santiago Matatlan in 2007. Can withstand dry, hot conditions: agave's resilience is being touted as a reason to plant it commercially in Australia. (Reuters)
Aussies reckon tequila plant's worth a shot in biofuel search

By News Online's Nic MacBean

Posted Tue Mar 3, 2009 3:06pm AEDT

* Audio: Tequila crop is a promising source of biofuel: professor (ABC News)

It's most well-known for being the main ingredient in the production of the Mexican spirit tequila, but a drought-resistant succulent plant is being touted as the next generation in biofuels.

Central Americans have used the sap of the agave plant to distil their potent brew for centuries, but an Australian company wants to harness its high sugar content to make ethanol for energy.

Sugar cane is already used in Australia to make sugar for ethanol production, especially in Queensland where there is a long-established cane industry and 10 per cent ethanol petrol is widespread.

Proponents of agave say they are not trying to replace sugar cane as a source of ethanol, but their plant is an ideal fit for climates where cane does not flourish.

Australian company Ausagave says it has 10,000 agave plants in pots that are ready to be trial planted.

Aussies reckon tequila plant's worth a shot in biofuel search - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
The altruism and concern Ozzies have for the environment is touching.
Alternative motive? Wadeyameeen? Avadrink

[Michaelangelica]

Muslim cleric decries biofuels as sinful | Cleantech Group

Well, if most of your $upport was coming from Saudi Arabia, you would make it a sin wouldn't you?

check out "What plants might be used just for biofuel " thread. That may be of interest.

[Michaelangelica]

Growing biofuel without razing the rainforest

* 23 May 2009 by Jan Rocha
* Magazine issue 2709. Subscribe and get 4 free issues.
* For similar stories, visit the Interviews and Energy and Fuels Topic Guides

You can't grow biofuel without cutting down trees, right? Not so, says plant scientist Marcos Buckeridge who tells Jan Rocha how Brazil can supply the world with green ethanol

Your aim is for Brazil to produce sustainable biofuel while preserving its rainforests. Isn't that close to having your cake and eating it?

It's true that those of us who think like this are in a minority, caught between those who don't worry about the environmental costs of bioethanol and those who claim it is impossible to produce biofuels sustainably.
The answer to those who condemn all biofuels has to be to differentiate where these fuels are being produced: we must ensure that Brazil's biofuel is green and sustainable.

How do you do make it sustainable?

A few years ago, when the search for fossil fuel replacements became more urgent, Brazil rediscovered the sugar cane ethanol programme it put into place in the 1970s because of the oil crisis.
Back then, nobody worried about sustainability. Now we have to show why Brazil's sugar cane ethanol is different from America's maize ethanol. It is unfair to lump the two together.
Our bioethanol is produced by using less than 1 per cent of Brazil's total agricultural area. It does not destroy preserved areas or compete for land with food crops. In fact, Brazilian food production should increase in the next five years. People fear sugar cane will be planted in the Amazon rainforest, but it is too humid for sugar cane there. We want to supply the world with green ethanol without cutting down a single tree. That's the challenge.

How much progress have you made?

Growing biofuel without razing the rainforest - opinion - 23 May 2009 - New Scientist

for a different view see
Biofuel Denialists? by Ed Ring - EcoWorld