This is cool.
When San Antonio researcher Kyle Murray peers into the future, he sees the land of black gold turning bright green. Algae green.Murray, an assistant professor of geology at the University of Texas at San Antonio, thinks the city is perfectly poised to become a research and production hotbed for literally one of the greenest fuels around, mined from the slippery marine life that thrives in the shallow ponds and warm, sunny weather that are hallmarks of this region.
Rather than punching holes into the ground to find petroleum, Murray envisions a shift to commercial production of native algae species and processing that harvest into biodiesel, which then would power the massive trucks that roar through San Antonio along the NAFTA corridor from Mexico.
Most species of algae are very efficient at producing oil. Unlike corn or other feedstocks for biofuel, algae can be grown year-round in warm climates, and an abundant crop can be produced on a relatively small amount of land, Murray noted.
"I think the potential is huge for San Antonio to get into this, and everybody would benefit," Murray said. "Biofuel is something we should be studying in San Antonio."
Here are some additional advantages of bio-fuel from algae:
It can use and reuse non-potable water not suitable for other agricultural uses.
It can use land that has no better use without damaging habitat.
Bio-diesel can be blended into Texas Low-Emission Diesel fuel immediately.
Diesel engines are almost as efficient in most applications as gas-turbines.
Bio-diesel can eventually be replaced with di-methyl ether from algae -- producing a soot-free fuel with no toxic residues.
Tuned-diesel engines today need not smoke or make much noise. They are lightweight enough to be used in tiny cars and light aircraft as well as other trucks, buses, trains, heavy machinery, and stationary or marine power applications that often use split-drive, electric or hydraulic, regenerative braking.
Thus, tuned-diesel engines integrate and hybridize a wide range of chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering technologies, industries, and trades. They are the most expedient source of "green jobs".
That is why I feature them prominently in the Texas Plan.
Posted by: John Robert BEHRMAN on March 22, 2009 12:19 PM