Oil Production from Algae
Throughout its history, the United States has gone through a series of transitions in terms of its primary sources of energy. We began by using wood before switching to coal and finally petroleum products. As we look into the future, we will need to rely more and more on renewable sources. Since 2000, renewable energy sources have increased at a faster rate than any other category. One promising avenue is the production of oil from algae.
In 1978, the United States government, through the Department of Energy, began the Aquatic Species Program. The goal was to do research into the production of oil from aquatic plants, primarily algae. The program was ended in 1996 due to budget cuts, but substantial progress was made.
Algae can be grown in large open ponds or in more controlled closed systems. The greatest yields can be produced in the more controlled settings, but at a greater cost. The future of this industry will doubtlessly rest on the ability to produce large quantities economically.
The Department of Energy has estimated that to replace petroleum-based diesel with biodiesel produced from corn or soybeans, it might well take half of the land area of the country. However, with the increased yields from algae-based production, it might be possible to do so with an area about the size of Maryland.
In addition to the production of oil products, such as biodiesel and biogasoline, work has been done to ferment the carbohydrates in algae into bioethanol, which can be used to power many combustion engines.
One interesting avenue of oil production from algae is to use wastewater as the source of nutrients. This would have the double advantage of helping solve the problem of huge amounts of sewage from cities while helping generate an energy source in the process.
With the current concern over increased emission of carbon dioxide leading to global warming, another interesting opportunity presents itself. If the carbon dioxide rich exhaust from power plants could be pumped into ponds, it would promote algal growth, once again solving an environmental problem and at the same time, producing energy.
In early 2009, Continental Airlines conducted a test flight using jet fuel that was a 1:1 blend of normal aircraft fuel from petroleum and a biofuel derived from algae. The flight involved a series of tests including a complete engine shutdown. The flight was quite successful and demonstrated the potential of oil products from algae for something as refined as jet fuel
As oil reserves diminish and the price of crude continues to rise, more and more effort will be put into these alternate sources of energy. Look for oil production from algae to figure prominently in the future.
