Benefits of Ethanol

The benefits of making ethanol from algae are many:

www.shell.com

Algae have many important advantages over other oil-producing crops, like corn, canola and soybeans. It can be grown in almost any enclosed space and it multiplies rapidly and requires very few inputs to flourish - mainly just sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. "Because algae has a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, it can absorb nutrients very quickly, and its small size is what makes it mighty." The EROI - Energy Returned is much higher than Energy Invested or required to produce algae ethanol. Recognizing the inherent benefits of using algae for making ethanol and solving the problem of energy crisis, major oil-producing companies like Shell have set up plants for making "algahol" or ethanol from algae.
Another significant feature of making algae ethanol is that it does not require a very complicated equipment or machinery to set it up. All it needs are ponds and rivers or can be grown in old water tanks. As Scientists and researchers of Canadian National Renewable Energy Association have observed that: "algae ethanol plant does not eat up the country's bread basket" and gives to mankind many valuable bi-products that are used in several ways.

The map shows that Canada has yet to invest in making algae ethanol on a large scale. By making ethanol from algae we will have two benefits -cleaner the aquatic environment and get more oil!

www.greenfuels.org

We need to recognize that these mighty giants (algae) serve us in many ways and we must "build on the promise" contained in them for helping to solve the energy crisis that we collectively face:
Similarly, in USA, the Scientists at Department of Energy are working together with an algae ethanol producing organization - Greenfuels and have further extended the qualities of algae to producing more than one fuel i.e. ethanol!

www.greenfuels.com
As shown in the diagram above the benefits of ethanol from algae are many - ethanol, biodiesel, and protein residue that maybe used to feed animals and other valuable products that maybe used to enrich the soil. This shows that algae ethanol actually puts food in the mouth of animals and does not take it away from them and at the same time fuels our automobiles!
Recognizing the many environmental and commercial benefits of using algae ethanol Virginair has signed a contract with Boeing to design engines for its aircrafts to run on algae ethanol.

www.virginair.com

The airlines, Virginair is trying to attract customers to support its eco-friendly approach by using eco-friendly fuel that does not pollute the environment with harmful gases or take up valuable food that could feed millions of hungry people.
The Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, an alliance of aircraft manufacturers, industry organisations and entrepreneurs, is seeking a biojet fuel that could come from algae. At the "Algae Summit" at San Francisco in early 2007 discussions were held to harvest wild algae from sewage farms, lakes and rivers, mining ponds and algae blooms caused by pollution in order to produce ethanol from algae by methods that are both "low cost" and "low tech".

Algae Bloom Caused by Pollution

Growing Algae in Giant Plastic Bags: A "Low-tech" Solution
www.eurozone.com
In a recent document released by Greenfuel Technologies Corporation - a leader in producing algae based ethanol, following facts were shared to encourage oil producing companies to support research in making ethanol from algae as the benefits are obvious, as shown:

www.greenfuels.com
A Case Study released by University of Massachusetts at the Green-car Congress in June 2007, illustrates the tremendous difference that would be made to the Airlines industry worldwide if the world's airliner fleet used only fuel made from algae.

http://www.greencarcongress.com
Emphasizing the significance of making ethanol from algae in our world today, Mr. Graeme Sweeney, Shell's Executive Vice-President of Future Fuels and Carbon, drew attntion of the participants to the "Decision Window" and stressed the need for "Oil producing companies the world over to recognize that algae have great potential as a sustainable feedstock for production of fuels, with a very small carbon footprint."

In conclusion, we need to acknowledge that our world though finite in size, offers us infinite possibilities and unique opportunities - making ethanol from algae is a UNIQUE opportunity of keeping our world energized by adopting this unique approach.

This is Our World and We Need to take Care of it!