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A Solution for Biofuels? Researchers Quadruple Algae Growth Using Low-Level Magnetic Fields
My Clean Break column revisits the importance of producing biofuels from algae, especially in the case of producing renewable fuels for the airline industry, which can’t electrify its fleet like we can with cars and trucks. But I also zoom in on some research conducted at the University of Western Ontario, led by biochemistry professor... [read more]
energyNOW! Video: The Future of Flight
Engineers are constantly trying to make airplanes more efficient, and there's finally a big push to do so. In “The Future of Flight,” Special Correspondent Josh Zepps takes a look at how the aviation industry is evolving to meet new needs and pressures, with new aircraft designs and advanced fuels. [read more]
Bioplastics: What Will 2011 Bring?
Here is an industry insight on bioplastics from Jim Lunt of Jim Lunt and Associates, LLC. We asked his opinions on the industry's performance in 2010 and his perspectives on the trends for 2011. 2010 was a pivotal growth year for bioplastics after the economy-induced flat period of 2009. Several prominent studies projected almost 40%... [read more]
At least 10 more years of R&D needed, but algae biofuels could be major contributor (particularly for jet fuel): study
If you want a comprehensive snapshot of the state of algae biofuel development you may want to read a 178-report put out by the Energy Biosciences Institute in California. RenewableEnergyWorld.com hits the key findings in this article, but the general observation is that the market is in “early gestation” and there’s at least a decade to... [read more]
Study Finds Algae Biodiesel Life Cycle Analysis Better Than Petroleum Diesel, Soy Biodiesel
The transformation of algae into a biofuel – from the photobioreactor where it’s grown to the factories where it’s processed – is more environmentally friendly than the process for petroleum diesel or soy biodiesel, according to a groundbreaking Colorado State University study. The research, by Professors Thomas Bradley and Bryan... [read more]
Gee whiz, algae!
Big institutions can make mistakes, as we’ve learned, painfully, lately. (See BP, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, etc.) But when big corporations like Unilever, Chevron and Bunge invest in a algae company that is also in business with the U.S. Navy, well, that’s a good reason to take notice. The algae company is called Solazyme and... [read more]
Cement maker first in world to capture CO2 with alga
We all know that making cement is an energy-intensive process, so when carbon prices are introduced in North America it’s going to have a major impact on an industry that quite literally lays at the foundation of our economy. In Ontario, cement maker St. Marys Cement — now part of Brazilian conglomerate Groupo Votorantim – has... [read more]
Solazyme’s amazing algae
Algae are so good at producing oil from sunlight and carbon dioxide that there are, by some accounts, as many as 200 companies trying to make biofuels from algae. Some are obscure, little more than a couple of guys playing around with pond scum. Others are attention-grabbing, like Synthetic Genomics, the company led by pioneering... [read more]
Strong algae momentum
Two recent big news on the algae front are developments from Honeywell's UOP business and from DuPont. Both companies were able to get funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE) - $1.5 million for UOP and $8.8 million for DuPont. In UOP's case, The funding will be used for the design of a demonstration system that will capture... [read more]
Another Response to the DARPA Claim
Many of my essays here are reprinted at The Energy Collective. Following a reprint of my recent essay examining DARPA's extraordinary claim on the cost of algal fuel, a reader named Durwood Dugger (this gentleman, I presume) posted some very interesting comments that are worth reproducing here. His original comment can be found here... [read more]
Algal Oil for $2 a Gallon?
By now I have had at least a dozen people send me the link or ask me to comment on the recent DARPA announcement that they can produce algal oil for $2 a gallon. It is an extraordinary claim, and it deserves some scrutiny. My fellow blogger Lou Grinzo has already made a few comments, and I share his skepticism. Then again, if you... [read more]
Algae jet fuel
Algae to solve the Pentagon’s jet fuel problem: The brains trust of the Pentagon says it is just months away from producing a jet fuel from algae for the same cost as its fossil-fuel equivalent. The claim, which comes from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that helped to develop the internet and satellite... [read more]
The challenge of life-cycle analysis in a world of rapid innovation
There was a big stink this week when a published study, led by University of Virginia civil engineering professor Andres Clarens, concluded that producing biofuels from algae isn’t as climate-friendly as many people believe, at least when compared to getting biofuels from switchgrass, canola, and – Huh? — even corn. The results,... [read more]
Slides from the Pacific Rim Summit
I am hopping on a plane again today, this time bound for the Orlando Energy Conference. The topic I will present is An Overview of Global Energy Issues. Good thing they asked for something easy and non-controversial. :-)This is the last trip I have scheduled for this year, and I am hoping not to have to travel again for a while.... [read more]
Algal Tidbits from the Pacific Rim Summit
My presentation is tomorrow, but I have sat through some very interesting presentations over the past couple of days here at the Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy. They have five panels going at once, but I have been sitting in on the cellulosic ethanol, algal fuel, and biomass logistics sessions for the most... [read more]
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Is Climate Change Bringing the Arctic to Europe? (643 views)
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Scott Edward Anderson is a consultant, blogger, and media commentator who blogs at The Green Skeptic. More »
Marc Gunther is a writer, speaker and consultant, who focuses on business and the environment. More »
Christine Hertzog is a consultant, author, and a professional explainer focused on Smart Grid. More »
Jesse Jenkins is the director of energy and climate policy at the Breakthrough Institute. More »
Robert Rapier works in the energy industry and writes and speaks about energy and the environment. More »
Geoffrey Styles is Managing Director of GSW Strategy Group, LLC and an award-winning blogger. More »
Dan Yurman is a nuclear energy blogger and writes regularly for Fuel Cycle Week. More »
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3rd Annual Utility Customer Experience Management Conference
When: Wed, 2012-02-08 08:00
Outage Delivery Optimisation Forum 2012
When: Wed, 2012-02-08 08:30
CSP Today South Africa 2012
When: Wed, 2012-02-08 09:00
Africa Energy Indaba
When: Tue, 2012-02-21 08:00
NERC CIP Compliance Training
When: Thu, 2012-02-23 08:00
2012 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit
When: Mon, 2012-02-27 12:27
