Algae Oil Fuel

Biodiesel is more and more becoming a household name and has been steadily increasing in production and use. Algae as fuel have been researched since the late 1970s and are quickly rising to the top of renewable energy sources.

Algae can produce about 15 times as much oil as their land based competitors like soy, rapeseed, corn or palms. About 60 percent of the body mass is oil and they grow about 30 times faster than any other crops. This makes algae an ideal candidate for the production of biodiesel and they may soon replace the use of petrol based diesel worldwide. It is estimated that it will require 140 billion gallons of algae based biodiesel per year to achieve this. A 100 acre sized algae plant yields up to 10 million gallons in one year.

Biodiesel is generated with a method called transesterification. In the process vegetable oils are reacted with alcohols like methanol or ethanol. The result is a layer of glycerin and solid waste and a top layer of biodiesel and alcohol. The alcohol is extracted either with water or through distillation and the solid algae waste makes a good food source for animals. Glycerin is used in soaps and other cosmetics. All parts of the algae and side products from the production of biodiesel are used.

Algae can grow anywhere and does not ask for much. The water can be salty, brackish and they even thrive in wastewater. They grow outdoors and indoors. All they need is enough H2O, light and carbon dioxide. Many manufacturers for algae products locate their plants in CO2 rich areas like close to energy production plants, helping at the same time to reduce emissions in the region.

The challenge today is to find the best method of growing algae and to streamline the manufacturing process for algae based biodiesel to its best potential. Growth needs to be controlled and increased, harvesting be made as efficient as possible to keep the costs competitive and profits motivating. Currently three ways of growing algae are used. The most straight forward is the open pond method. The name speaks for itself – algae grow outdoors in a pool or pond of water. This is an effective but perhaps not the most space utilizing approach. Vertical tubes or thin bags out of clear plastic are a space saving alternative and a very promising approach is the closed – tank bioreactor which brings the highest output of algae and the highest rate of oil.

Algae based biodiesel is one of the cleanest burning fuels with one of the brightest futures a natural crop can have.