Saturday, September 02, 2006
Oceans, Iron & Oil - Connect the dots
I must thank Tom Catino for sending in this rather intriguing piece of input. He sent me an article from Moss Landing Marine Laboratory studies @ California State University
To give a brief background, these researchers were conducting studies on sequestering carbon-di-oxide - that is carbon-di-oxide absorption and locking-up thus reducing that much amount of CO2 from the atmosphere. As you can understand, this is an important topic in itself, given the massive increases in CO2 in our atmosphere owing to the twin effects of increased pollution and decreased forest covers. However, what is of specific interest to us is this:
"..the scientists added iron to surface waters in two square patches, each 15 kilometers on a side, so that concentrations of this micronutrient reached about 50 parts per trillion. This concentration, though low by terrestrial standards, represented a 100-fold increase over ambient conditions, and triggered massive phytoplankton blooms at both locations. These blooms covered thousands of square kilometers, and were visible in satellite images of the area..."
The research further indicates that "...even where silicic acid levels are low, iron fertilization can result in blooms of phytoplankton such as dinoflagellates and prymneseophytes, which do not require silicon for growth yet still consume vast amounts of carbon dioxide."
This research was conducted in 2002, and there is a mention of this research in three research articles in the April 16 issue of Science, and is featured on the magazine’s cover...(citation: Kenneth H. Coale, et al. Southern ocean iron enrichment experiment: carbon cycling in high-and low-Si waters. Science. Vol. 304 #5669 (April 16, 2004)).
As I said earlier, perhaps there could be a connection between Iron, Oceans and Oil? If iron fertilisation could result in massive blooms of desired algae (this is still a question-mark, since we do not know what all species of algae respond to iron fertilisation, only a couple of them are mentioned in the article), then algae cultilvation in open seas is worth having a look at. Currently, from what I understand, using oceans for oil-bearing algal cultivation is not considered to be a feasible idea.
Your ideas are welcome, thanks again to Tom for pointing it out.
You can read the full article on Moss Landing Marine Laboratories experiments here
Useful reference web sites: Planktos
Keywords for the article: Antarctica, Iron Fertilisation, Phytoplantkon, Ice Age, Southern Ocean Iron Enrichment Experiments (SOFeX), Iron-rich dust, Silicic acid, Dinoflagellates, prymneseophytes, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Personalities mentioned: Dr. Kenneth Coale of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML), Dr. Ken Johnson of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), Dr. Ken Buesseler of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Dr. Jim Bishop of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog Home
algOS - Open Source for Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae.com - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, provides directory and web links resources for the algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. It is intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters and importers of algal oil and algal fuels. It will make an effort to provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil info and link, details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, bio-fuels, algal oils production and uses, and biofuels trade & market resources, data, statistics such as price, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Interest in Ocean Power Surges
While searching for news articles on algal biodiesel, I accidentally came across this news item, sounds interesting, though long-termish. Not really to do with algae, but something to keep in the back of our minds...
Summary:
New projects seeking ways to use the ocean's thermal energy, tidal power and wave action are under way from Maine to Oregon to Hawaii in the United States and are widespread in Europe.
The emphasis on ocean power is growing as fossil fuel becomes harder to find, its price climbs and environmental concern mounts over global warming, said Hans Krock, an engineer and president of OCEES International Inc. in Honolulu.
Ocean thermal power plants, which generate electricity from the temperature difference between the tropics' warm surface water and deep cold water, could be built on land in several hundred areas around the globe's equatorial zones and also could be constructed as floating plants.
Organizations mentioned: Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, Electric Power Research Institute, Ocean Power Technologies, OCEES
Personalities mentioned: Roger Bedard, ocean power leader of the Electric Power Research Institute, Ron Baird, CEO of the Natural Energy Laboratory, Andy Trenka, Ocean Power Expert @ NREL
See the full article here
Ref web sites:
Energy Information Administration: www.eia.doe.gov
National Renewable Energy Laboratory: www.nrel.gov
Electric Power Research Institute on ocean energy: www.epri.com/oceanenergy
OCEES International Inc.: www.ocees.com
Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority: www.nelha.org
Ocean Power Technologies: www.oceanpowertechnologies.com
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog Home
algOS - Open Source for Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae.com - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, provides directory and web links resources for the algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. It is intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters and importers of algal oil and algal fuels. It will make an effort to provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil info and link, details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, bio-fuels, algal oils production and uses, and biofuels trade & market resources, data, statistics such as price, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
A Useful Oil from Algae Forum
From what I understand, the folks who run this forum also co-ordinate the yahoo groups on Oil from Algae @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oil_from_algae/
Oil from Algae
Oilgae Blog Home
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
Oilgae.com - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, provides directory and web links resources for the algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. It is intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters and importers of algal oil and algal fuels. It will make an effort to provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil info and link, details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, bio-fuels, algal oils production and uses, and biofuels trade & market resources, data, statistics such as price, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Solix Biofuels
Came across a company by name Solix Biofuels in a yahoo mail group on oil from algae ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oil_from_algae/ ) ...the note states that Solix Biofuels is a developer of massively scalable photo-bioreactors for the production of biodiesel and other valuable bio-commodities from algae. The Company is currently building its prototype reactor at Colorado State University and developing the
biological systems (algae strains) in order to commercialize the production of oil from algae
Not able to find much more about the company at this stage, am afraid, but perhaps worth keeping a lookout for more news from the co?
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog Home
algOS - Open Source Movement for Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae.com - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, provides directory and web links resources for the algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. It is intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters and importers of algal oil and algal fuels. It will make an effort to provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil info and link, details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, bio-fuels, algal oils production and uses, and biofuels trade & market resources, data, statistics such as price, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Aquaflow Bionomic (NZ) to Join Girvan Institute (US)
NZ Biofuel Developer First in NZ Invited to Join Prestigious U.S. Research Hot-House, the Girvan Institute
Marlborough-based biofuel developer, Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation, has made another breakthrough as the first New Zealand company to be invited to join the prestigious Girvan Institute of Technology in the United States.
Aquaflow recently announced it was the first in the world to commercially produce bio-diesel fuel from algae sourced from Marlborough sewerage ponds.
The Girvan Institute is a non-profit, public benefit corporation established to speed up the development of cutting edge technologies into useful products and services. Girvan’s affiliates and partners include global research labs, Fortune 1000 companies, small and medium high-tech companies and a number of private equity and venture capital firms.
Read more from Scoop, New Zealand here
Companies/organizations mentioned: Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation, Aquaflow Bionomic Inc., Girvan Institute.
Personalities mentioned:
Aquaflow director Nick Gerritsen, Girvan chief operating officer Evan M. Epstein
Other Acquaflow staff mentioned: Renewable energy developers Vicki Buck and Barrie Leay, CEO Teresa Williams, company’s technical expert Bill Rucks.
Oilgae.com - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog Home
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source Movement
Oilgae.com - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, provides directory and web links resources for the algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. It is intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters and importers of algal oil and algal fuels. It will make an effort to provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil info and link, details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, bio-fuels, algal oils production and uses, and biofuels trade & market resources, data, statistics such as price, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Algae May Produce Biofuels - UPI
Companies/organizations mentioned:
1. Kibbutz Ketura, Israel-based Alga Technologies
2. AlgaTech
3. Cambridge, Mass.-based GreenFuel Technologies Corp.
4. U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy division
Personalities mentioned:
1. Amir Drory
Also discusses:
1. Fuel economy of biofuel and biodiesel
2. Tax incentives and credits for retailers and blenders of biodiesel and ethanol
3. Ethanol blenders and retailers eligibility for the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit.
See full article here
Oilgae Home - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog Home
algOS - Algal Biodiesel Open Source Movement
Oilgae.com - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, provides directory and web links resources for the algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. It is intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters and importers of algal oil and algal fuels. It will make an effort to provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil info and link, details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, bio-fuels, algal oils production and uses, and biofuels trade & market resources, data, statistics such as price, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Sunday, August 27, 2006
MIT Energy's Manhattan Project
Scientists at MIT are undertaking a big, ambitious, university-wide program to develop innovative energy tech under the auspices of the school's Energy Research Council.
"The urgent challenge of our time (is) clean, affordable energy to power the world," said MIT President Susan Hockfield.
Inaugurated last year, the project is likened by Hockfield to MIT's contribution to radar -- a key technology that helped win World War II.
"As the example of radar suggests, when MIT arrays its capabilities against an important problem ... we can make an important contribution," said Hockfield in an e-mail...
Some of the projects: Spinach solar power, Silicon superstrings, Laptop powered Hybrids, Tubular battery tech, Optimised air-conditioners, Hybrid without the hybrid, Generating Car's Electricity Photoelectrically, Coal-fired biofuels...
Read more from here
Oilgae - Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog Home
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
Oilgae.com - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, provides directory and web links resources for the algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. It is intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters and importers of algal oil and algal fuels. It will make an effort to provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil info and link, details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, bio-fuels, algal oils production and uses, and biofuels trade & market resources, data, statistics such as price, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
