SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Gold/Mining/Energy : Bio-Fuels: The Case for Micro-Algae

 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: jmhollen who wrote (72)10/31/2010 2:38:16 PM
From: Hawkmoon  Read Replies (1) of 121
 
Will never happen. Ethanol is too volatile and not suitable for naval combat vessels.

It's why all military vehicles moved from gasoline to diesel back in the '70's.. Diesel is less volatile (lower flash point), and creates a common fuel which means easier logistics.

Algal based diesel is dependent upon scalability and volume refining. If I produce 10 gallons of bio-fuel, but I am paid a salary of $100,000 as a chemical engineer, then one can imagine how much that fuel would cost per gallon. The more I produce, the less that fuel will cost.

So I don't buy into these numbers. This was a "proof of concept" program, not actual production of bio-fuels to augment current fuel sources.

That said, a lot of work remains to be done to bring the cost of algal bio-fuel down to be competitive with current sources.

Hawk
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext