How Does Algae Production For Biodiesel Compare To Other Crops?
April 22, 2012 by Oliva Morlock
Filed under Green Energy
TweetMost of us have already felt the blow of the higher fuel prices and they are said to keep rising. With no increase in our income, this means that we either have to stop driving or we give up other things that we normally afford ourselves.
This doesn’t have to be the case. Algae biodiesel offers a very promising alternative to oil and is a resource that can theoretically never run out. That’s because algae is a plant that really only needs co2, water and sunlight to keep growing and multiplying. The water doesn’t even have to be clean.
To grow, algae need CO2, water, and sunlight. It is very unlikely that we will be running out of these resources anytime soon, if ever! So this makes algae biodiesel cheap and a long-term solution. You might be thinking, why algae and not any other plant.
Soybean is often cited as a great biofuel crop. In fact it’s one of the leading crops used for biodiesel blends right now. But the problem is that soybeans are a food crop. People and animals could eat it instead of converting it into biodiesel. This means that if you choose to grow soybeans for biodiesel, you will be taking away land from food production.
This issue is resolved by using algae biodiesel. Algae can grow in open ponds and in places where food production isn’t possible – for example in deserts and land not able to sustain agriculture. This means that creating algae biofuels does not take land away from food production.
Another advantage is that because the land is not good for much, it will be cheap to buy and allow the cost of algae biodiesel production to drop by a large amount. All that needs to be done is set up large water collections for the algae to grow in and they will thrive.
And when comparing the yield achieved between algae and soybeans the benefits become obvious. For example, if you take the same size of land and try to grow algae there and turn it into biodiesel and then you grow soybeans and turn that yield into biofuel, the result will be that the algae makes about 400% more than soy.
With our current algae biodiesel technology you could produce two thousand gallons of algae biodiesel each year from about one hectare of barren land. And this figure will continue to rise each year due to better understanding of algae production for biodiesel and more advanced technology.
Such large amounts of biodiesel are not needed by the average person. And because algae biodiesel uses little land it is now possible for people to start growing their own algae at home and converting it into biodiesel.
This can’t be done without the right knowledge and it isn’t the easiest thing to do. But by reading the right books and gaining the needed knowledge this can be done. It is possible to have the whole system set up and running for very little money because the equipment needed is very simple and cheap to acquire.
Making algae biodiesel at home is definitely the cheapest way to produce algae biofuels but if you don’t think that it’s not something for you then look for companies already making biodiesel locally. There are many lists online, so you just have to take the time and visit each facility to make sure their algae biodiesel is of good quality.
If you want to receive more info concerning algae biodiesel and the option of producing your own biodiesel at home then visit making-biodiesel-books.com.
Alternative Fuels Are Here For Good
September 7, 2011 by drjohnmcgowan
Filed under Green Energy
TweetWhen you really think about it, alternative fuels is something that can have a huge impact depending on the situation.
Endeavors to produce different types of alternative fuels have become one of the biggest areas in the car industry. Scientists are working hard to develop fuels that burn clean and are safe for the environment. Thus far, they have come up with several that are safe for the environment and also provide a terrific advantage to vehicle owners.
Possibly the most well-known of alternative fuels is ethanol. Ethanol, also called grain alcohol, is made from either soybeans or corn. You may discover at the gas station something referred to as E85 which is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gas. Many who use it claim that it burns cleaner that gas and gives better gas mileage. While there is gas in E85, it still burns a great deal cleaner. Aside from corn and soybeans, plant materials from logging, discarded paper and other organic materials can be used to produce ethanol. Because they both are alcohol-based products, methanol is a form of alternative fuel very similar to ethanol.
It is trusted that what you will have discovered up to here with reference to alternative fuels, as well as also the info regarding green living, is going to be useful for you. Please do continue reading below to have further ideas regarding these subjects.
Methanol is also called wood alcohol and is created from wood or coal. These days, creating methanol is affordable as it can be made from natural gas or propane. Propane, or compressed natural gas, is standard in lots of houses but has been gaining traction for fueling autos. Like crude oil, compressed natural gas is taken from the earth. You need to know that propane is not a liquid but a true gas similar air. This natural gas has become very popular in certain areas as it is eco-friendly. Another fuel that is very popular is electricity.
Electric autos have been in development since the 1970s but have not gained popularity until recent times. An electric-powered car uses electricity stored in batteries, rather than burning gas in an engine. It can take between 12 and 24 batteries to run an electric car. An alternative fuel that indicates so much promise is hydrogen. Hydrogen fuel is nonetheless in its early stages of growth but the promise is there. It is bringing much excitement through the environmental fuel industry, as it is so easy to make and also because it is so light. A lot of people believe that hydrogen will become the next great fuel for future cars.
These are just a few of the numerous alternative fuels on the market now. As we become more concerned with global warming, efforts will be made to discover better alternative fuels. Alternative fuels will increase in popularity, and their place will rise and fall depending on what is created next.
Homemade Solar Cells Can Really Save You A Lot Of Money!
August 5, 2010 by Dr Jon Elsdon
Filed under Green Energy
Building your own solar power kits makes a lot of sense in the current economic and environmental climate we find ourselves in.
Solar energy has been the main contender to take over our energy needs. This form of energy is essentially free (aside from installation costs), limitless (solar is a renewable energy source) and has no harmful impact on the environment.
There is only one major drawback and it’s a big one. Unfortunately purchasing and having a solar power system installed is an extremely costly exercise, one which prevents the vast majority of home owners ever seriously considering it as an option.
There is however a solution to this dilemma, making your own homemade solar cells. Building your own homemade solar cells will save you thousands of dollars that would need to be spent purchasing and having installed a retail system from a solar specialist.
Hold on there! I hear you say, you don’t have a PhD in physics and as far as your handyman skills go you have two left thumbs! Well you need not worry, building your own homemade solar panels is a surprisingly easy and hassle free process. The main thing you need to do is get an instruction book to walk you step by step through the process.
There is no great expense in materials either, all materials can be found at your local hardware store and will set you back around $200.
The financial savings you stand to reap, once you have your cells built and installed, are substantial. With traditional off the grid energy production slashed by as much as 80% this translates to hundreds of dollars slashed of each and every power bill you will ever receive.
So as you can see building your own solar panels can save you a lot of money, why not get to it and build your own system today, simply check out the following link for more information Home Made Energy.
To read reviews of the latest do it yourself instruction guides, check out the following link DIY Solar Power and solar hot water adelaide .

