Algae could provide a viable alternative for fossil fuels in just a few year, experts say in a report by the Agence France-Presse.
The green, slimy water monger provides a good source of lipids, which scientists can extract energy from for bio fuel. Algae is a good source because it grows quickly in areas not used for agriculture: marshes, waste water, ponds, etc.
Commercial production could start by as early as 2011, Paul Woods, chief executive of Florida-based Algenol Biofuels said.
Some experts are skeptical that this is a hasty prediction. After decades of research, algae-fuel production costs are still too high for it to be a viable replacement for fossil fuel, but costs should drop as production increases, others say.
Researchers are also examining how algae fast consumption of carbon dioxide can be harnessed to make planes, trains and cars run cleaner, lessening the CO2 footprint in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment