Filed under: Emerging Technologies
Boeing likes algae as a source for new biofuels
Following up on the announcement from Virgin Fuels earlier in the week of their intention to work with Boeing to demonstrate biofuel in a 747-400. Now comes further information that Boeing considers algae as the best prospect as a source for aviation fuel. The aircraft manufacturer will be focusing on testing the performance of algae derived jet fuel, especially its freezing point.
Initial tests may use soy or canola fuels until algae is further along in the development process. Boeing's Dave Daggett estimates that algae ponds totaling 34,000 sq. km could produce enough fuel to reduce the net CO2 footprint for all of aviation to zero. That's an area equivalent to the size of Maryland.
[Source: FlightGlobal]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
cdub 2:00PM (4/27/2007)
Well considering the algae is the plant that removes most of the CO2 from the atmosphere on earth - I would say this is a bad idea.
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Chris M 1:53AM (10/05/2008)
They are unlikely to harvest algae from the wilds. More likely, they will build "algae farms", which will dramatically increase, not decrease, the amount of algae growing, thus increase the amount of CO2 being removed.
Of course, burning that bio-jet fuel releases the carbon that was absorbed, making the whole thing carbon neutral, but that is better than burning fossil fuels.
Chris 2:15PM (4/27/2007)
cdub, this is growing the algae in an aquaculture farm...not 'mining' the existing algae.
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Sharon 5:35PM (4/27/2007)
I am so pleased to see Boeing in the on going "GREEN' process...
One would definitely be "flying the friendly skys with Boeing!"
Smiles and world peace,
~The Baby Boomer Queen~
http:///www.BabyBoomerQueenAdvisorClub.com
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dmog 11:04AM (4/29/2007)
Chris is correct, its using algae from:
tertiary sewage ponds (see Aquaflow & Solvent Rescue in NZ)
stand alone algae cultivation ponds (American SE, LA and others)
containerized algal bioreactors that eat power plant CO2 (ala Greenfuel Technology)
with the Greenfuel system, since they start out with CO2 from a coal power plant, the net net is that one still releases fossil derived CO2, BUT one gets twice the energy per unit of CO2 released
with the Sewage treatment option, the cool thing is that their process aslo mitigates methane emissions, which gives an even greater net GHG benefit that just subsituting petrol Jet A for bio-jet.
Watch this very closely, for Boeing to have the confidence to message about this publicly, says something about how viable they see it being.
As an aerospace person myself, I will say it is EXTREMELY helpful to have folks like yourselves support and applaud out-of-box thinking like this. It matters in the internal debates that go one between those in the industry that want to do nothing and those that want to get moving. Boeing has obviously chosen the latter.
What is extremely uphelpful, are commentors that look at big moves like this and call it hypocrisy and such. That only emboldens the side, in the internal debates, thats want to do nothing. Sort of "see, we're only going to be criticized by the environmentalists if we get proactive, so lets do nothing or fight the greenies" conveys he general idea.
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Hamish Ireland 5:05PM (2/25/2008)
Algae for fuel...a process that remediates human waste and clogged waterways, produces a viable fuel stock from that, and the by-product is clean water!
Where's the problem? What is holding Aquaflow and Boeing back??
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JimmyG 12:06AM (10/05/2008)
Well there's not really anything holding them back, they're moving forward right now, just not quite there yet.
What they're developing is totally new technology and just like with anything new there's bound to be alot of complicated technical issues to overcome that aren't immediately obvious to an observer, especially when the concept is so simple!
They've definitely demonstrated that it's possible, Aquaflow even claims they can do it at compeditive prices, now we just wait and see how cheap it really is. If it works out these things will probably be popping up at every water treatment plant around the world just about.
Pretty cool.
b cole 2:34PM (10/20/2008)
To learn more aboout algae commercialization, you may want to check out this website:
www.nationalalgaeassociation.com
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