| Dozens of threads on algae oil | |
| Algae will have no role. The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory conducted a multi-year multi-million dollar investigation on algae that was terminated in 1995 or so. Energy production was determined to be impossible. To summarize:
1. Simple single cell organisms do not grow well under laboratory or agricultural conditions. They are susceptible and die from subtle changes in ph, CO, O2, temperature, sediment, invasive competitors (bacteria, virus, fungus, rogue algae etc.), nutrient levels, sunlight changes, etc. etc. For this reason outdoor ponds do not work.
2. Outdoor and indoor facilities (tanks, biogenerators, etc.) are not cost effective and require precise controls. (see above)
3. Algae bred (and fed) for lipid production do not breed well, so cultures can not be ramped up. Read the full article |
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