Posted on: June 15th, 2008
Sometimes, the best things come in small packages.
This is apparently the case in biofuel production, where researchers are excited about the potential of algaculture, which is the farming of single-celled photosynthetic algae, or phytoplankton, to replace dependence on foreign fossil fuels.
One of the most fertile fields being sown in the challenging race to provide a one-size-fits all solution to the energy crisis, algae cultivation shows tremendous promise when compared to more complex vegetation.
Estimates indicate that some species of algae may yield as much as 30,000 gallons per acre of biodiesel, a figure which impresses even the skeptics who dispute it, claiming that 800 gallons/acre is more realistic. Even conservative estimates indicate that algae is very likely to be the feedstock of choice for biofuel manufacture in the near future.
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Filed under: BioFuels by admin
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Posted on: June 15th, 2008
The latest wave in automotive engineering has brought about rapid innovations in the development of alternative fuel vehicles. Under pressure from consumers as well as government mandate, vehicle manufacturers large and small have launched a new generation of versatile, efficient models designed to run on renewable energy.
From Toyota and Honda to Ford and GM, most of the major auto lines now sport at least one version of flex-fuel in several major classes, and the trend will very likely sweep the industry. Unlike traditional gasoline engines, flexible fuel sedans, trucks and, most recently, sport utility vehicles, are able to fill up on either gasoline, a biofuel such as ethanol, or some mixture in between.
When combined with electric hybrid capabilities, these vehicles truly do go the extra mile, getting the fuel ratio of a light compact in the body of an SUV, which so recently was the mechanical symbol for wasteful eco-villainy among critics of oil-based energy policies.
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Posted on: June 15th, 2008
One unintended side effect of developing fuels agriculturally has been an attendant increase in the price of those crops we depend on to feed the planet. While largely a result of futures speculations and commodity trading, the alarming spike in the cost of essential food products has dimmed the enthusiasm of many biofuel advocates.
Water requirements, fertilizer contamination, and competition for prime farmland all combine to render corn and soybean models of biofuel unsustainable for the future, despite government mandates and a strong public impetus toward green vehicle alternatives.
Others have turned their sights on sources which are not a part of the food supply. While the dietary needs of humans and other animals require nutritious seeds grown on premium land, some species of oily plants promise much higher yields without impacting the food supply.
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Filed under: Fuel Alternatives by admin
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Posted on: June 15th, 2008
One of the most intriguing possibilities for alternative fuels is the most basic and abundant element in existence. Seductive in its simplicity, the hydrogen molecule has been an intense subject of interest for physicists and engineers looking for a source to power everything from our homes to the journey to the stars.
We have already seen the mighty potential of hydrogen…empires have been built and crumbled on the mere threat of missiles containing the explosive energy of a small star. Indeed, all the energy on the Earth ultimately derives from the ferocious hydrofusion reactions at the core of the Sun.
Containing that force, however, has proven to be a dangerous and elusive task. While inventors have striven to capture the unique properties of Nature’s commonest substance to power everything from balloons to the very electric grid itself, the volatile atom has evaded nearly every attempt to tame it.
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Filed under: Hydrogen Based by admin
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Posted on: June 15th, 2008
High prices at the pump have prompted many consumers to search for easy ways to stretch that gallon a little further. Having exhausted the standard tips, such as maintaining tire pressure and a clean air filter, and unable to invest in a flex-fuel vehicle or electric hybrid, more and more drivers are trying additives which promise to improve fuel economy.
Most of these formulations work off the same basic concept: the internal combustion engine is monstrously inefficient, leaving a significant amount of your expensive gasoline or diesel fuel unconsumed in the tailpipe emissions. Not only is this bad for your pocketbook, it’s bad for the environment, helping bring about smog, acid rain, and the greenhouse effect.
A bit like cough medicine, these remedies are available in liquid and pill form. Also like many popular over-the-counter cures, many of these treatments contain little more than various forms of alcohol or the octane which is already added to premium gasoline.
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Filed under: Fuel Additives by admin
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