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December 11, 2008 [LINK / comment]

A path to energy independence?

A company called Valcent Products is testing a new greenhouse system that uses algae to generate large quantities of lipids that can then be processed into combustible oils. According to CEO Glen Kertz [watch this video], "What we have is a closed-loop photo-bio reactor." (???) If his biofuels project lives up to his claims, it may go a long way toward U.S. achieving energy independence. Or, it could turn out to be another pipe dream like cold fusion. But at least it's worth a try -- hopefully with entrepreneurial capital rather than government subsidies. One drawback: the system requires huge inputs of fresh water. Hat tip to Rich Raab; Steve Kijak has some photos of the prototype.

Another reason to pause: With gasoline prices plummeting to insanely low levels right now ($1.37 per gallon!??), the profitability of such alternative energy sources comes into question.

Posted (or last updated or commented upon): 11 Dec 2008, 10: 19 PM

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Blog highlights have been compiled for the years 2010-2012 thus far, and eventually will be compiled for earlier years, back to 2002.


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The "home made" blog organization system that I created was instituted on November 1, 2004, followed by several functional enhancements in subsequent years. I make no more than one blog post per day on any one category, so some posts may cover multiple news items or issues. Blog posts appear in the following (reverse alphabetical) order, which may differ from the chronological order in which the posts were originally made:

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