UK Starts World’s Largest Algae Biofuel Initiative
Great Britain hopes that algae-based biofuels can reduce automotive and aviation emissions by 2030, and cut overall emissions by 80% by 2050.
While food-based biofuels are taking the heat for rising food prices, other solutions - like algae - are gaining a more serious following. For example, the UK’s Carbon Trust has announced plans for a project to make algae bio-fuels a commercial reality by the year 2020
But the situation is much more than some “food vs fuel” finger pointing. The fact that transport accounts for one-quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions is major driving factor - pun intended: it’s also the fastest growing cause of carbon emissions in the UK. If the government’s target to reduce overall emissions by 80% by 2050 is to be met, then initiatives like this are crucial.
- » See also: Scientists Researching How Plants Can Make Petroleum
- » Get Gas 2.0 by RSS or sign up by email.
The UK isn’t the first country to try such a monumental undertaking. There have been major efforts in the past to develop algal biofuels on a commerical scale. Multilmillion-dollar projects funded by the US government during the 1980s found high biomass yields were definitely possible. The research fizzled out when no one found a way to make the product commercially competitive with the low petro prices for that era. One word - FAIL!
Large scale programs were also tried in Japan, but also to no avail.
The Carbon Trust forecasts that algae-based biofuels could replace more than 70 billion litres of oil every year. They hope to have the initiative in full effect by 2030. In carbon terms, this equates to an annual savings of more than 160m tonnes of CO2 globally!
The first stages of the project include investing in British companies involved in promising algae research.
“You can make algae with a very high oil content and you can make algae that grows very quickly and, at the moment, no one can do both,” said Robert Trezona, R&D director at the Carbon Trust.
It will take a multitude of approaches to fully realize the potential of algae. “There are many more different algae species than there are higher plant species so each algae will require specific effort. Each one will have its own peculiar requirements to figure out how to make them productive, how to get the right strains, how to harvest and process them. We cannot just depend on one or two companies.”
The second phase of the project starts around a year later and involves scaling up the algae-growing operation. The Carbon Trust will build multi-hectare open ponds to act as laboratories for the most promising algae technologies identified from the previous stage. Due to the UK’s gloomy weather, these will most likely be built abroad. This phase of the project could see the Carbon Trust, and interested partners from industry, investing up to £20m.
“If you I’ve got 12 months a year of warmth and sunshine, your algae farm just produces much more biomass. In a world where costs will be important, UK algae farms would have a real problem,” said Trezona.
Mark Williamson, innovations director at the Carbon Trust, said: “We must find a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to oil for our cars and planes if we are to deliver the deep cuts in carbon emissions necessary to tackle climate change. Algae could provide a significant part of the answer and represents a multibillion-pound opportunity.”
So no need to burn your autos just yet, folks. Well…unless of course McCain wins. I don’t think even algae can save us from Sarah Palin’s energy expertise.
Image source: Jef Poskanzer on Flickr
LonnieB, this is blogging. Authors inserting their opinion is not only tolerated, it’s expected. Save the journalism standards rant for someone actually claiming to be a journalist.
LonnieB,
I respect and understand your frustration with the overwhelming bias in the main stream media, but as John points out above, blogging is part journalism and part opinion — we make no attempt to hide this fact here at Gas 2.0. In fact, I’m proud of the wide variety of opinions and backgrounds that our small group of writers brings to the table.
What the MSM lacks is the ability to tell its audience truthfully that they are doing exactly what bloggers do. Instead they still charade as though what they present is unbiased and unopinionated. That is where my respect for the MSM flies out the window. But we’re not the MSM here at Gas 2.0.
Although we do interject a good dose of opinion into our posts, we try to provide a balance of fact with that opinion, so that, even if you don’t agree with the opinion, you can still walk away having learned something. And, if you don’t agree with the opinion, I would hope that you feel free, as you obviously do, to leave comments and interact with the writers.
My sense is that our blog has a good balance of differing opinions from its selection of writers, and I would hope that as you peruse all of our content you’d get that sense too.
Nick Chambers
Editor Gas 2.0
You know Jeff, your unnecessary and downright nasty political comment reduces the believability of your post. It looks like you just used something of real interest to get people to read your sick joke.
You might find this information from UNH interesting. It looks like we, The USA could become the OPEC of biodiesel supply. But this might be way too big for a good joke lead-in.
Bransby, Algae eats CO2 as it grows and it gives off O2.
What does the burning American vehicle have to do with the story?
What does the political bit have to do with anything in the article? It will be even less relevant after the election.
Honest , accuratem, unbiased reporting. Often demanded from the big networks. (ie Fox) But then can’t seem to follow it yourself?
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. by Mahatma Gandhi
KieranMullen
As someone who should be mid-life right about now, shouldn’t you be aware of political promises?
No matter who wins, we are entitled to contact our representatives to DEMAND clean energy.
I have notice that local government and private industry has been in the forefront of actually making alternate energy avialable to the masses.
Instead of being bias, why not focus on what is revelant.
Write another article on the evils of the Republician party (so I can skip over it). I want to read about the issue, not a political spin.
Didn’t Bush sign the bailout bill which has all the tax credits in it for PHEV’s and Solar Installation and paying people to ride their bikes to work. (All articles can be found on Treehugger)
Didn’t Bush fund hydrogen research in 2003?
Didn’t Bush sign into law the Largest Marine Santuary?
He also did some stupid things also to the enviroment, but the article is supposed to be based on something else.
Not that I am a Bush fan, but to illistrate a point, you should leave your political bias out of an article.
Give credit where it is due and comment on the items that need to be addressed and corrected.
Wow, I would say the truck in that image is fully engulfed!
Jiff
http://www.online-privacy.cz.tc
Good morning all,
Now that I’ve had a good night’s rest, I’ll calm down. Apologies if my ire got a little abrasive. I can’t let my frustrations get the better of me.
I came to this site to learn a few things about biofuels and to share what kowledge I may posses with others. Not read irrelevent political wisecracks. I have blooged other sites until I could no longer stomach the political B/S. I guess the MSM and their pet politicians have created a division so deep in this country that there’s just no escaping it.
That’s sad. America’s greatness used to lie in her independence and innovation. Have you noticed that it is “we the people” blogging here? Has anyone ever seen a politician, local or otherwise, come on a blogsite like this asking the people’s opinions or input? Also note that the problems we address here were largely created by our government and the solutions we offer often reflect a need to get around or change some lame government decission or rule.
Oh well, I guess it is what it is. I lament the country my father, myself, my daughter, in fact my family dating back to the Civil War fought to forge and defend. It is being stolen by those who will not be content with anything less than the dismantling of the American Dream into a socialist nightmare.
You are really thick aren’t you , the burning car relates to the comment at the end. You don’t have to burn your car just yet. Get it?
Only a fool would come here expecting journalism.
Judging by election coverage this year journalism is dead.
I am shocked that what we are commenting on here is the way the article was written, the relevancy of the photo, the strong political bias that represented not quite two sentences. Where are your environmental passions? Have we utterly and completely stopped cheering for innovation, possibility and hope on the environmental front? Have we really become so bitter and callous as to point out the problems with journalism in an article that truly speaks to a viable alternative? Who cares if it’s a British initiative?! It may eventually play a significant role in freeing most of the world from our dependence on oil and rape of the earth’s limited fossil fuel resources. Can’t we get excited about that?! One intelligent comment, from someone who was worried they would seem “thick” for asking… pitiful.