Eco Factor: A facility that produces power by burning coal in Oregon intends to turn the carbon emissions into bio-fuel with the help of algae.
Algae are strange and opposite to us in their basic survival skills. While we thrive on oxygen and would most surely die in a chamber of CO2, Algae would consider a room full of carbon emissions as heaven on earth. They breathe in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen, and that is something that the folks in Boardman, Oregon want to cash in. The largest power-plant in the state burns coal for power, and in the process releases 5 million tons of carbon gases each year. The company intends to breed algae on these carbon emissions and not just reduce the emissions but also produce bio-fuel.
The algae can be used to extract bio-fuel and the pulp can be used to produce ethanol. This not only gives us a way to produce much-needed fuel but rids the air of huge deposits of carbon gases. The cleaning-up facility would be completely ready and operating at maximum capacity in two and a half years’ time. When done, it will reduce carbon emissions of the factory by a good 60%.
The Dark Side:
The technology is still only in a developmental stage and it would take more facilities and better features to really convert the complete carbon emissions into oxygen and fuel.
Via: Gas2
