(Editors note: Robert Rapier continues his series looking at the potential and viability of biofuels)
The recent capitulation of algal-biodiesel pioneer GreenFuel Technologies provides an important lesson for those who believe there will be a seamless transition from fossil fuels to a greener future. There are many intriguing possibilities out there, but most of them are going to end up on the scrap heap of history as these technologies scale up from the lab. If you are familiar with the history of algal biodiesel, you may know from 1978 to 1996, the U.S. Department of Energy funded a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on the feasibility of producing renewable fuels from algae. The study examined a number of strains of algae for potential lipid production, as well as those that could grow under conditions of extreme temperature, pH, and salinity. (more…)
