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Algae as an oil source?

May 21, 2008
By Ken Worsley


A recent Nikkei article reminds us that while the idea of using algae as a source of oil is not brand new, in the past it has never been seen as economically viable. That may be changing…

According to the article, Professor Makoto Watanabe at the University of Tsukuba is breeding a green algae called Botryococcus in his laboratory. Botryococcus is special because it produces large hydrocarbon molecules as a by-product of photosynthesis. According to the professor, if Botryococcus is cultivated efficiently, there is potentially no limit to the amount of oil it could produce.

Although the algae is currently producing less than half of the ten grams per liter that would make it cost-effective against oil, the algae also consumes carbon dioxide, and thus appears to yield more energy than it consumes. One current challenge is that only about 60% of the oil produced can currently be extracted, and the professor is looking at ways to boost that ratio.

In order to potentially boost productivity, Watanabe is hooking up with Denso to create a larger outdoor facility that should provide a greater yield of the green stuff.

According to the article, given a yield of 10 grams of oil per liter, it would take an area the size of Fukushima Prefecture to grow enough algae to meet Japan’s oil needs. Thus, a natural solution seems to be to cultivate the algae at sea. However, one major obstacle remains: the freshwater Botryococcus needs to mutate or be genetically engineered into a strain that can survive the high seas.

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Comments

5 Responses to “Algae as an oil source?”

  1. Matt Dioguardi on May 22nd, 2008 4:10 am

    If this works it would be great, however, I worry that introducing a genetically modified form of algae into the ocean could wreak havoc. What if it grew too well and grew uncontrollable? Themes for future scifi movies about Armageddon abound.

  2. Vimy on May 22nd, 2008 10:01 am

    So, in other words, this technology is still a pipe dream. Even if the algae is successfully mutated, how do they protect the algae farms from contamination, the weather, and large waves? I think overcoming these obstacles would put the energy equation into the negative.

  3. Brad on May 22nd, 2008 7:17 pm

    Algae for oil? Don’t see it happening.

  4. pligg.com on May 25th, 2008 7:04 pm

    Algae as an oil source?…

    A recent Nikkei article reminds us that while the idea of using algae as a source of oil is not brand new, in the past it has never been seen as economically viable. That may be changing…

  5. Más algas generando combustible « No sé cómo llamar a este blog on June 18th, 2008 6:22 pm

    […] alternativa que encuentro por ahí, sería mutar el alga para que sobreviviese en agua salada y, así, poder cultivarla en el […]

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