38 Reasons Algae Will Never Replace Oil

Algae/Other Aquatic Organisms/Seaweed, Opinions

October 30, 2011

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(EnergySkeptic.com) … This is a quick summary of the problems with making fuel from algae:

Is more energy used to make algae biofuel than is created? (EROEI)

1) Keep water in ponds or plastic tubing within a narrow range of optimal temperature no matter how hot or cold the outside temperature is

2) Algae diseases and infections (takes energy to remove them)

3) Algae predators (takes energy to kill them)

4) Keep competing low-fat strains of algae out and kill them (but not the good algae)

5) Prevent overcrowding

6) Keep pH levels constant

7) Keep saline levels constant

8) Pump water into the ponds

…

Where’s the land?

1) It must be flat land that can be flooded. Most suitable land that’s flat is already being used to produce food.

2) The land with the best sunlight typically have no water, i.e. deserts

3) The land must be near a lot of water that doesn’t compete with cities and agriculture.

…

Does it scale up? Is it too expensive?

1) Algae that do well in the laboratory usually don’t survive in the field

2) Algae that are high-fat reproduce slowly.

3) Enclosed facilities use polycarbonate, which lasts only 10-15 years

… READ MORE and MORE (Scientific American)

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