Green Thursday: Completing the circle of oil

In the beginning, there were algae, but there was no oil.
Then, from algae came oil.
Now, the algae are still there, but oil is fast depleting.
In future, there will be no oil, but there will still be algae.
So, doesn’t it make sense to explore if we can again get oil from algae?

This is the premise for another alternative fuel source for an energy hungry world.
Our dear earth has only so much fossil oil. Folks continue debating just how much oil we really have left; some say there is enough oil only for the next 50 years, while the more optimistic point to oil shale and tar sands and think we have another 100 years before fossil oil becomes as scarce as common sense. No matter what your reasoning, there is only enough fossil oil for a few more generations.

While a number of bio-feedstock are currently being experimented for biodiesel and ethanol production, algae have emerged as one of the most promising sources especially for biodiesel production, for two main reasons (1) The yields of oil from algae are orders of magnitude higher than those for traditional oilseeds, and (2) Algae can grow in places away from the farmlands & forests, thus minimising the damages caused to the eco- and food chain systems. There is a third interesting reason as well: Algae can be grown in sewages and next to power-plant smokestacks where they digest the pollutants and give us oil!

With crude oil over $130 a barrel, and gas over $4 a gallon, wouldn't this be a great time for the profit rich oil companies to step forward with a major development initiative to solve this global problem? Why would oil companies take part? Because existing refineries could be used to refine this green crude into a fuel that could be used in our current engines. The entire delivery chain already exists! Governments of energy-hungry economies could join the development party to do some good for the planet. (Count the US out, we're too busy fighting for oil right now)

Learn more at Oilgae.com

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