Micro-algae-based biofuel has the potential to quench a sizeable chunk of the world’s energy demands, say scientists.
WASHINGTON DC, US: According to scientists, micro-algae-based biofuel has the potential to quench a sizeable chunk of the world’s energy demands. Jeff Moody, Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student, Utah State University, produces much higher yields of fuel-producing biomass than other traditional fuel feed-stocks and it doesn’t compete with food crops.
“Our aim wasn’t to debunk existing literature, but to produce a more exhaustive, accurate and realistic assessment of the current global yield of micro-algae biomass and lipids,” said Moody.
Moody and colleagues Chris McGinty and Jason Quinn leveraged a large-scale, outdoor micro-algae growth model. Using meteorological data from 4,388 global locations, the team determined the current global productivity potential of micro-algae, ‘Phys.org’ reported. “Our results were much more conservative than those found in the current literature. Even so, the numbers are impressive,” said Quinn.
Algae yields about 2,500 gallons of biofuel per acre per year. In contrast, soybeans yield approximately 48 gallons; corn about 18 gallons, researchers said. “In addition, soybeans and corn require arable land that detracts from food production. Micro-algae can be produced in non-arable areas unsuitable for agriculture,” said Quinn. Researchers estimate untillable land in Brazil, Canada, China and the US could be used to produce enough algal biofuel to supplement more than 30 per cent of those countries’ fuel consumption.
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