Algal Biofuels Not Ready For Scale-Up

Tator Tot writes with this quote from Chemical & Engineering News: "Using today's technologies and knowledge, a scale-up of fledgling algal biofuel production sufficient to meet even 5% of U.S. transportation fuel demand is unsustainable, says a report released last week by the National Research Council. The report examines the efficiency of producing biofuels from microalgae and cyanobacteria with respect to energy, water, and nutrient requirements and finds that the process falls short. The energy from algal biofuel, the report finds, is less than the energy needed to make it. In terms of water, at least 32.5 billion gal would be needed to produce 10 billion gal of algae-based biofuels, the report states. The study also finds that making enough algal biofuels to replace just 5% of U.S. annual transportation fuel needs would require 44–107% of the total nitrogen and 20–51% of the total phosphorus consumed annually in the U.S."

English

[sunderland56]

Yes, I know that 'algal' is perfectly good english. But wouldn't 'algae-based' be much more clear to the 99% of the population that are not chemists?

Better-ish link

[OzPeter]

TFA doesn't even link to where the actual report can be found (shame on you Chemical & Engineering News)

The actual report is behind a paywall, but has some summary points Sustainable Development of Algal Biofuels (2012) [nas.edu]

Re:Gotta keep moving

[bluefoxlucid]

How about industrial hemp? Grows on shit land; produces fiber that can be blended with cotton for a soft, strong product; leaves behind much cellulose to process into ethanol (or compost) as well as seeds that you can press for oil and process into biodiesel (and feed). You can smoke it, but by the time it gets you high you'll be dead for want of lungs that aren't beef jerky.

Re:We'll probably still do it

[geekoid]

False.
http://www.usda.gov/oce/reports/energy/aer-814.pdf [usda.gov]

Re:Who really wrote this report an oil lobbyist?

[Baloroth]

No offense, but I'm sure you jut figured out in 20 seconds what the DoE couldn't in 20 years. Somehow, I don't really believe that.

For one thing, wastewater, while rich enough in nutrients, isn't suitable for growing algae, or at least not the kind of algae you want (it'll kill it). That means processing. Mind you, algal biofuel has a lot of potential, which is why no less than a dozen US universities are researching it, but it's a bit more complex than dumping pig waste into a pond of water. It has a lot of potential, but as the summary and article say, it isn't ready.... yet.

Re:Sewage

[LunaticTippy]

That sounds promising. It doesn't have to be a municipal sewer plant, though. New Belgium [newbelgium.com] brewery treats their own wastewater, which saves them money on their sewer bill, generates electricity from the methane produced, and gives them environmental bragging rights. From what I've heard the system already paid for itself and now reduces their operating costs every year.