As scientists across the globe are racing against time to discover newer alternatives to fossil fuels (oil has already touched $100 per barrel), there seems to be a green ray of hope in Professor Roger Ruan’s lab in University of Minnesota; The Algae. Researchers are working on how to identify right and promising strains of algae, how to grow them, ways to extract maximum oil in most efficient manner and also what to make from the residue there after. Professor Ruan and his colleagues are busy in their labs designing a system called ‘photobiorector’ so that the right nutrients and light reach the algae that they want to grow. Open ponds and deep tanks are not suitable for algae’s growth as the water gets thick with it and this hampers the penetration of sunlight. The technique of getting oil from algae is similar to extracting bio diesel from vegetable oil. The only difference is the unavailability of infrastructure whereby the whole process could be completed start to finish under one roof. Experts feel this is a major reason behind the high price of extracting oil from algae. Algae have a major potential in being a commercial success. It is easy and fast to grow in most compact areas, almost anywhere and sea water can also be used for its growth. It can also eat up pollutants from sewage and power plants. In an estimate, Professor Ruan claims that one acre of algae can produce nearly 15000 gallons of oil per year when compared to one acre of corn crop which produces only 20 gallons of oil per year. Although extracting oil from algae, where some varieties hold as high as 50% oil is not new. Like any new research this research too faced the brunt of less funds and government support. Nearly a decade ago the Federal government had stopped the research. But now with improved technologies, many companies are interested and funds are flowing in. The biggest challenge however remains in bringing the prices as low as $2 per barrel which currently is at $20 per barrel. Via: Msnbc
