CCU vs CCS ...

There are huge amounts of resources chasing after the Carbon Capture and Storage answer to sequestering CO2. Aside from the obvious risks of storing anything for basically an indefinite amount of time, there exists costs in both equipment and energy. The US and several developed nations are pursuing this "answer" to CO2 emissions, although I feel this is the wrong path.

From the wikipedia article ... "Capturing and compressing CO₂ requires much energy, significantly raising the running costs of CCS-equipped power plants. In addition there are added investment or capital costs. The process would increase the energy needs of a plant with CCS by about 10-40%. The costs of storage and other system costs are estimated to increase the costs of energy from a power plant with CCS by 30-60%, depending on the specific circumstances."

Costs and risks mitigate the good that this may do ... more importantly there are alternatives to this that make more sense. I propose that we follow a Carbon Capture and Use scenario where the CO2 sequestration is then used to create viable products of economic value. Thus this blog was created to look at Use scenarios, like the algae to biodiesel, that creates that alternative. We have also created a pathway that will allow further creation of materials that can be utilized for construction ... solving the global warming problem can give rise to further answers to fuel dependency and localized production of building materials .. this is a bright future ...

Test Data Shows Promise of Success ...

Valcent / Global Green released first information on test data from their El Paso, TX site pointing to significant progress towards commercialization of the algae to biodiesel process. Citing initial results, the process using their Verigro photobioractor system yielded 276 tons of oil per acre per year or translated into gallons, 33,000 gallons per acre per year. In contrast, palm oil operations yeild 620 gallons with soy yields 48 gallons. Here is link to full Press Release

Baking Soda to Capture CO2 ...

In a novel approach, Skyonics has developed a system to capture CO2 and produce baking soda. This leading to the speculation that this methodology could be the answer to curbing global warming ... that is quite a leap, but the technology is of great interest. Mineralization of the CO2 capture process is something that has been under the radar, but could provide a viable alternative to the costly and energy hungry carbon capture and storage (notice the difference between the terms Carbon Capture & Storage and our Use rather than Store) schemes being promoted by many including the US Government.

Included in this article is a reference to other methods including the algae to biodiesel. The world is searching for answers while the delegates in Bali are reaching a frustration point fueled by the stance of the US and several other large powers ... action must be taken .. answers must be found ... the clock is ticking for all of us ....

US & China MOU for biofuel increase ...

Article today highlighting an MOU between China and US to develop biofuels to meet their increasing energy demands. This move to mitigate the rising dependency on imported fossil fuels leaves the door wide open for alternative means of producing fuels for the increasing numbers of vehicles being produced and used in both countries.

HR Biopetroleum & Shell Hawaii JV ...

HR Biopetroleum and Shell announced a JV to cultivate algae for biodiesel in Kona, HI at the site of the old NREL facilities. HR Biopetroleum had created a hybrid photobioreactor / open pond method of optimizing growth and yield for algae in sunny Kona, HI. Follow the links at the website and you can download a white paper that describes this hybrid system and the basis on this JV ... interesting information and possibilities ....

Welcome ....

I created this blog to share in events and happenings in the world dealing with areas that I follow on a daily basis. I believe that we are embarking on an amazing journey that will change the world for the better, and the more people that know and understand the faster change will occur. I will post links to articles of interest with a small commentary but leave the information open to your interpretation. I believe that we are on the brink of revolutionary times and the replacement of fossil fuels or at least the lessening of dependencies will occur over the next few years. We are seeing daily breakthroughs and the path to fuel from sustainable resources, in my view Algae, will come about very very soon ...

So let it begin here and unfold for the good of all ...