Eco Factor: Carbon neutral processes could turn canal algae into cheap, green power.
Using algae for fuel is not a new concept, but using it to generate megawatts of clean electricity is the newest in eco technology that is being experimented with in Venice. Italy has recently announced a €200 million project that would make use of algae brought by the ships coming from Japan and Sargassi Sea and convert it into fuel that could be used to power electricity-generating turbines.
The basic idea is to use two kinds of algae including – Sargassum Muticum and Undaria Pinnafitida, which commonly come attached to ships. The algae will then be cultivated in laboratories and will further be processed, converting them into fuel which will be used in a new 40MW power plant, which when complete in 2011 would be able to supply 50% of the electricity required by Venice’s city center. The carbon dioxide produced in the process will be fed back to the algae.
The Dark Side:
The source by which algae will be captured doesn’t seem to be as ecofriendly as the final product is touted to be.
Via: Treehugger
