Researchers looking to derive fuel from algae just took a big step forward. The Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory, in partnership with Iowa State University, announced a new "nanofarming" technique that would allow people to "harvest" oil from algae while leaving the plants intact to continuously produce more.
Already, they are looking for ways to commercialize their discovery, tapping nanotechnology and biofuel company Catilin to aid them in research, development and eventual marketing plans. The three-year project responsible for developing the nanofarming approach is supported by $885,000 from the DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, as well as $216,000 from Catilin and $16,000 from the university.
Gathering oil from algae isn't a new concept, but this technique of leaving the algae unharmed is the first of its kind. It lowers production costs and quickens the plants' oil-generation cycles. Catilin is also a vital partner because it offers a catalyst that can easily and cheaply turn the oil into certified biodiesel.
The potential for algal biodiesel is enormous considering the scale and expense of the current oil market. Researchers say Ames and Catilin's approach could eventually derive a staggering 10,000 gallons of oil from just one acre of land. To put this in perspective, a statement released by the two parties says that if the current U.S. petroleum market was converted to algal oil, the whole industry would only require 15,000 square miles of space -- a little larger than the state of Maryland.
Perhaps more significantly, this is less than one-seventh of the land used for corn farming in the U.S. So in a sense, algae has the credentials to overtake the lumbering ethanol business. Considering the country's formidable farm interests, it's extremely unlikely this will happen anytime soon. All the same, it's nice to know there's a more efficient, cleaner backup ready to roll when people start acknowledging the damaging effects of ethanol (environmental and financial).
Three phases remain between where the project stands now and commercialization. The first two of these phases will determine which algae is ideal for oil extraction and nail down the microextraction procedures. The third phase will be all about scaling these processes and the catalytic reaction in a pilot plant facility.
The project has yet to define itself as startup or take money from private sources, but so far, it looks pretty promising.