The future looks green. Bright green.
Posted 01.14.2010 at 9:59 am
7 Comments
Green Algae Future
Hurrah for algae but ... not in my backyard
NOAA
Scientists have been trying their best to turn algae into the biofuel of the 21st century, and now the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) wants to put some serious muscle behind all that research. That muscle translates into $78 million of federal funding split between two biofuel consortia, according to an announcement today by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
The DOE's edgy science lab ARPA-E has already doled out millions to companies large and small working on energy-related projects. But this represents a sizeable investment in a biofuel that scientists have long-considered the one with the greatest potential payoff.
Related Articles
 | Geoengineering: Visions of Fake Plastic Trees and Algae Tanks on Every Roof |
 | Modified Algae Produce Clean, Easy Hydrogen |
 | Struggles Making Algae Biofuel Lead To A Fishy Solution |
Tags
Technology, Jeremy Hsu, algae, biofuels, department of energy, DOE, green energyBoth biofuel consortia represent many of the biggest players in private industry and academia working on algae. The National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts gets $44 million to figure out ways of growing enough algae, harvesting efficiently and converting algae into a fuel-ready state. The second consortium, the National Advanced Biofuels Consortium, received almost $39 million to develop end-product biofuels from algae and other biomass.
We've looked at plenty of possible solutions for all parts of the algae production equation, such as feeding and squeezing fish for algae oil. Another group of researchers has modified algae for a different green energy purpose -- creating clean, easy hydrogen fuel. And some companies have even seized upon algae as the plastic of the future, rather than a biofuel.
Almost any and all algae uses sound good to us. But we might balk at an algae food product named soylent green.
7 Comments
To comment, please Login.
Popular Tags
Technology
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 2013: The Future Of Flight
The incredible innovations, like drone swarms and perpetual flight, bringing aviation into the world of tomorrow. Plus: today's greatest sci-fi writers predict the future, the science behind the summer's biggest blockbusters, a Doctor Who-themed DIY 'bot, the organs you can do without, and much more.
.jpg)
Popular on Popsci
Most Commented
Technology
- Green Light For Plan To Build World's Tallest Building At Record Speed
- Why The U.S. Won't Dare Kill Edward Snowden With A Drone Strike
- U.S. Government Uses Early Knowledge Of Microsoft Bugs For Spying
- Congress Was Not Really Briefed On PRISM
- A Concise History Of The NSA's Online Spying Program PRISM
- Who's More Powerful, China Or The United States? [Infographic]
- Why Government Phone Spying Is Really About Big Data
- Watch This Insane Helicopter-Bike Fly Around
- Designers Spruce Up The Government's Crappy PowerPoint
- Laser Time Cloak Hides The Fact That An Event Ever Happened
Most Emailed
Technology
- Nursing Home Tracks Residents' Every Move
- Researchers Can Now "Hear" The Exact Shape Of A Room
- Designers Make City Noise Actually Sound Good
- All Of America's Waterways On One Map [Infographic]
- The 6 Most Important Things We Learned From Edward Snowden's Guardian Q&A
- Stanford's Artificial Neural Network Is The Biggest Ever
- New DNA Fog Covers Crime-Scene Suspects With Evidence
- Meet NASA's Astronaut Class Of 2013
- Meet NASA's Astronaut Class of 2013
- Google Reveals Massive Iranian Phishing Scheme
Most Viewed
Technology
- Nursing Home Tracks Residents' Every Move
- Researchers Can Now "Hear" The Exact Shape Of A Room
- Designers Make City Noise Actually Sound Good
- All Of America's Waterways On One Map [Infographic]
- The 6 Most Important Things We Learned From Edward Snowden's Guardian Q&A
- Stanford's Artificial Neural Network Is The Biggest Ever
- New DNA Fog Covers Crime-Scene Suspects With Evidence
- Meet NASA's Astronaut Class of 2013
- Meet NASA's Astronaut Class Of 2013
- Google Reveals Massive Iranian Phishing Scheme
Online Content Director: Suzanne LaBarre | Email
Senior Editor: Paul Adams | Email
Associate Editor: Dan Nosowitz | Email
Assistant Editor: Colin Lecher | Email
Assistant Editor: Rose Pastore | Email
Contributing Writers:
Kelsey D. Atherton | Email
Francie Diep | Email
Shaunacy Ferro | Email
Today on PopSci.com
.JPG)
Copyright © 2012 Popular Science
A Bonnier Corporation Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Great idea, though we really should move away from biofuels too, at least algea isn't a food source for people.
cool
The "law" of unintended consequences will raise it ugly head. Has anyone considered the effect on the food chain, if said algae escape their open-air confines?
don't know if you realize this or not but we already have algae in water.
How right you are, Azorus! Soylent Green was people!
Just registered and was asked what interests I had. Didn't have my check off which is "anything Glenn Reynolds (instapundit) links.
I think this would be fantastic for farm raised fish. The primary source of omega 3 is salmon and other cold water fish. Algae is a food source for people although indirectly. And an important one.
Safe and reliable inclosed systems such as the one manufactured and distributed by American companies like Biocentric Energy located in southern California and praised by the American Algae Association as the Wall Mart of algae systems are already in full steam and leading the way into the future of clean green energy using the CO2 toxic waste that industry can use to minimize their carbon footprint with.