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Algal Advanced Feedstock for Biofuels |
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Algae is currently thought of as a third generation feedstock for biofuels. And, algal biomass harvested from BioVantage waste-to-value solutions can be extremely cost effective. The waste streams provide free nutrients, and the algae is essentially a byproduct of the process.
Biofuels are the fastest growing segment of clean energy representing ~$35B in 2008 and expected to grow to $105B by 2018 –- This represents an increase of over 300% in just one decade. Algae can service biodiesel, ethanol, isobutanol, aviation fuel, and other biofuel needs.
The problems are many-fold:
- The US imports ~400,000 gallons of oil every minute (worth ~$1B every 24 hours).
- Worldwide emission of greenhouse gases continue to trend upwards and scientists agree that there will be enormous and severe consequences.
- Tens of thousands of Americans die annually due to fossil fuel related illnesses and tens of thousands more are hospitalized. Soot from diesel is the #1 killer and cause of asthma (among air pollution related diseases).
- Petroleum related toxins such as lead, benzene, toluene, xylene, and MTBE have made it into our food & water supplies.
- 1st generation biofuels cannot produce enough supply without threatening food supplies and biodiversity, and some produce only limited (or negative) greenhouse gas emissions savings.
Advanced biofuels, such as algae, are an important part of the solution.
So Why Algae?
Here are just a few of the advantages. Algae ...
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Produce 30-100x more oil than seed crops
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Burn cleanly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and eliminating cancer-causing soot
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Do not need arable land, hence, do not participate in the “food versus fuel” debate
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Produce zero-waste by post-processing the rest after oil extraction into lucrative bi-products such as food supplements
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Are environmentally friendly requiring little water and fertilizer, and no pesticides (even spills are biodegradable)
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Grow 24/7, year-round with crops grown daily (as opposed to seasonally)
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