Opinion: Can we save the algae biofuel industry?

[EdEarl]

 

Phys.org

May 10, 2016 by Christian Ridley, The Conversation

 

Algal biofuels are in trouble. This alternative fuel source could help reduce overall carbon emissions without taking land from food production, like many crop-based biofuels do. But several major companies including Shell and ExxonMobil are seemingly abandoning their investments in this environmentally friendly fuel. So why has this promising technology failed to deliver, and what could be done to save it?

Oil prices are down, making oil from algae is not economical at low oil prices.

 

OP: Battery technology improvements by 2x would significantly improve electronic vehicle (EV) economics, and research seems to say 5x better batteries is possible. EV lifetime costs are similar to petrol cars, halving battery cost and weight might be enough that people would prefer an EV.

 

Oil is still the source of plastics, which pollute the environment. But, microbes are eating plastics. Since the supply of plastic food (for microbes) is large and growing, it is possible plastic eaters will thrive and recycle our plastic wastes. In addition, we can become better recyclers. At least, buried plastic does not contribute CO2 into the air.

[Phi for All]

It's rough on alternatives when gas is this cheap. We took a ten year break from EVs for similar reasons, but then gas spiked to US$5/gal and WHAM! Within a couple of years we had more hybrid options and a few affordable fully electric models.

 

This is, of course, what we should be using subsidies for, to promote new markets. Instead, we subsidize oil, sugar, banks, all kinds of highly profitable sectors that are already doing very well (and would continue to post record profits without the freebies). We need to help alternative fuels with subsidies, and stop propping up older technology. Modern business models encourage Big Oil, who also controls most of the effective large format battery technology, to keep it all status quo for as long as possible to reap the most profit from existing infrastructure and processes.

 

Progressives have been after fair subsidies for quite a while. The problem as I see it is many conservative hypocrites argue for Big Business subsidies with half their face, while screaming about fair capitalist market practices with the other half. Big Businesses are hardly competing fairly when they get so much money from the taxpayers. No more lobbying for special subsidies for Big Business, and thoughtful subsidies for promising new technology that helps us continue our civilization without destroying the environment in which it exists.

[mongoloidz]

Not to mention fusion is right around the corner for public unveiling. I've seen the US hardware in the black ships and they are so fast all you see is a blue streak if the lights are on.

 

So we have some pretty exotic stuff behind the curtains and it goes far beyond algae systems.