Green Power From Algae?

by Andrea Hehn

Venetian scientists are currently creating a power plant to use oil derived from algae. The carbon dioxide exhaust from burning this oil (which would power turbines) would be captured and used to feed the next generation of algae. The algae would be grown in plastic tanks and provided with water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight. Apparently, an acre of algae can produce far more ethanol than traditional biofuel plants like corn (up to 100,000 gallons compared to between 18 and 335). Still, there are some problems with algae, especially if it were developed for general use (for cars, etc.). The Venetian power plant is going to recycle the carbon dioxide exhaust, but this would not be possible for broader use. Biodiesel may be renewable, but that doesn't mean it isn't still bad for the earth. Carbon dioxide still escapes and contributes to the greenhouse effect. However, if it's true that they can modify algae to produce 100,000 gallons of oil per acre, then perhaps less land will be used for producing ethanol and more can be used to grow food (or they might just make more oil). But the process is still in development and might not even work out. I think we need to move away from oil, natural gas, and nuclear power and towards wind, wave, and solar power. If the human race is clever enough to create what we already have, I'm hoping we're clever enough to figure out how to power it all without destroying the earth.

Link: http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/03/30/1871113.aspx