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Debate: Algae biofuel
From Debatepedia
[  ] [  ] [  ] [  ] What are the pros and cons of algae biofuel?
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Background and context
Algae biofuel is a fuel derived from the process of growing algae and decomposing it to extract oils from it that can be burned for energy. It involves the same basic principles underlying all other biofuels, but uses algae instead of corn, wood, sugar, or soy beans to produce the fuel. Algae biofuel is envisioned principally as a fuel for vehicles and a possible replacement for gasoline.
With oil prices rising since 2003 and difficulties with other biofuels, interest in algae biofuel has increased. Venture capital began to flood the emerging algae biofuel industry in 2008. Sapphire Energy, an algae biofuel start-up, has raised over $100 million in venture capital, including from Bill Gates' investment firm Cascade Investment. Recent difficulties, however, with once-lauded alternative energy sources, including hydrogen fuel-cells and corn ethanol, has caused many to question moving forward too quickly with algae biofuel before fully analyzing the pros and cons.
The advantages and disadvantages of algae biofuel are framed by some of the following questions. Is algae biofuel a valuable tool in fighting global warming? Is it carbon neutral, emitting only CO2 that it absorbs first during growth? Can it cut emissions? Does algae biofuel yield substantial energy relative to the energy inputs involved in its production? Is algae biofuel good for local environments? Does it require too much water? Does it require too much land and incentivize deforestation as a result? Is biofuel commercially viable? Is it price competitive with oil, other biofuels, and other sources of energy such as solar panels? Should algae be used to filter C02 emissions from coal plants - a form of "clean coal". How does it compare overall to other alternative sources of energy, particularly other biofuels and solar power? Are electric cars and electricity-generation superior to algae biofuel and all forms of fuel for vehicles and transportation? Should we generally be moving onto the electric grid and away from liquid fuels for vehicles?
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[  ] [  ] [  ] [  ] Emissions: Is algae biofuel good for combating global warming?
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[  ] Yes
- Algae biofuel is carbon neutral; only emits C02 that it absorbs. Growing algae absorbs C02 in the process of photosynthesis. It is a carbon sink. This is why, when algae biofuels are burned and emit some C02, the emission balance is C02 neutral; it emits only C02 it previously absorbed, adding no new C02 into the atmosphere. Because it is carbon neutral in this way, it is a renewable energy source that can be produced and burned for energy sustainably.
- Algae biofuel can scale to even possibly replace oil. Nick Hodge. "Biodiesel Bliss - The Second Coming". Energy and Capital. 2 Apr. 2007 - "Research like that being done at the Colorado State University’s (CSU) Engines and Energy Conservation Laboratory and the University of New Hampshire (UNH), suggests that algae could supply enough fuel to meet all of America’s transportation needs in the form of biodiesel."
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[ ] No
- Algae biofuel distracts from better ways of reducing emissions. Douglas Parr, chief scientific advisor for Greenpeace UK. - "our main worry is that it comes as a distraction from the fact that aviation has got to do plenty of things aside from algae research in order to become truly sustainable."[1]
- Industrial algae biofuel depends on dense C02 from coal plants. "Algae biofuel mania". Stockhouse. 11 June 2008 - "Algae can obtain carbon from atmospheric carbon dioxide, but the amounts present are insufficient to promote rapid growth. That requires something like smokestack effluents containing more than 10% CO2, and in fact some of the earliest attempts to grow algae as a fuel source were predicated upon the development of pervasive industrial carbon dioxide capture. That's not happening, and unless it does, real mass production of algal biofuel is scarcely possible."
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[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [  ] Economics: Is algae biofuel economically viable?
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[ ] Yes
- Algae biofuel can become price competitive with oil Jennifer Holmgren, director of the renewable fuels unit of UOP LLC, an energy subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc said, "If you can get algae oils down below $2 a gallon, then you'll be where you need to be. And there's a lot of people who think you can."[2]
- There are no soil requirements for algae biofuel. Biofuels that are created from land-plants all have specific soil-quality requirements. If soil in an area does not meet the specific nutrient requirements of a biofuel plant-type, that plant cannot be built and used to produce the biofuel in the land-area. Algae, because it grows in water (of almost any kind and quality), is not limited by soil-quality.
- Byproducts of algae biofuel production can be used as fertilizer. Nick Hodge. "Biodiesel Bliss - The Second Coming". Energy and Capital. 2 Apr. 2007 - "fertilizer for other food crops can be produced by using the leftover nutrients that aren’t used to make the biofuel...after the necessary oils have been extracted from the algae, we use the byproducts (phosphorus and nitrogen) as fertilizer for the food crops that feed the nation--all while extracting C02 from the air."
- Algae biofuel does not damage food prices. Sapphire Energy, a algae biofuel start-up says, "Critically important, there is no ‘food vs. fuel’ tradeoff. The process is not dependent on crops or valuable farmland. It is highly water efficient, delivering 10 to 100 times more energy per acre than cropland biofuels."[3]
- The algae biofuel industry is growing quickly with a bright future. "Oil from algae? Scientists seek green gold". MSNBC. 29 Nov. 2007 - "...The momentum behind algae has grown tremendously since [last year]. New companies, new methods, and a changing landscape indicate that biofuel from algae is poised to play a larger role..."
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[ ] No
- Hi-tech algae biofuel plants require too much energy/money "Leave the algae alone". Low-tech Magazine. 4 Apr. 2008 - "you have to build an array of structures [in algae biofuel bioreactors]: the glass or polycarbonate containers themselves, the metal frames, the greenhouses. The production of all this equipment might consume less energy (and money) per square meter than the production of solar panels, but you need much more of it because algae are less efficient than solar plants. Moreover, in closed bioreactors, CO2 has to be added artificially. This is done by bubbling air through the water by means of gas pumps, a process that needs energy. Furthermore, the containers have to be emptied and cleaned regularly, they have to be sterilized, the water has to be kept at a certain temperature, and minerals have to be added continuously (because also here, just as with cellulosic ethanol, "waste" materials are being removed). All these processes demand extra energy."
- Algae fuel ponds must be covered, and this is expensive. "Three Big Problems with Algae". Oilgae. 23 Oct. 2006 - "2. Random natural algae tend to start taking over from artificially seeded algae fairly rapidly unless the pond is covered, and covering ponds costs money."
- Algae pools can become contaminated and less efficient. "Leave the algae alone". Low-tech Magazine. 4 Apr. 2008 - "low-tech methods (comparable to growing corn, soy or palm trees to make ethanol or biodiesel) are being left behind for more efficient ones, using closed glass or polycarbonate bioreactors and an array of high-tech equipment to keep the algae in optimal conditions. Even though some companies still prefer open ponds (like the PetroSun plant that started production last week), this method has serious drawbacks. The main problem is contamination by other kinds of algae and organisms, which can replace the energy producing algae in no time."
- Industrial algae biofuel requires too many nutrients "Algae biofuel mania". Stockhouse. 11 June 2008 - "I might point out that some of the more vociferous algae pimps are suggesting that algae need merely be introduced into a properly designed, water filled bioreactor and the organisms will multiply until the unit is packed to overflowing with tons upon tons of green biomass, all in the space of days. This is patent nonsense. Algae can grow quickly, but only in the presence of sufficient nutrients. Just like any other organism, algae require carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and various other minerals."
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[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Land-use: Does algae biofuel take up too much land?
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[ ] Yes
- Algae yields much more biofuel per acre than other fuels Compared with second generation biofuels, algae are high-yield high-cost (30 times more energy per acre than terrestrial crops) feedstocks to produce biofuels. Since the whole organism uses sunlight to produce lipids, or oil, algae can produce more oil in an area the size of a two-car garage than an entire football field of soybeans.
- Algae photo-bioreactors require very little land. "Algae: Not Only The Best Biofuel By Far...". Ecoversity - "For the algae-culture projects which use large growing ponds, the potential biodiesel production per acre is 30 to 100 times greater than obtainable with corn, soy and palm oil. However the most efficient systems, called photo-bioreactors, stack clear tubes of water with algae in the sun, requiring very little acreage for significant production. This is the system we are demonstrating at Ecoversity."
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[ ] No
- Algae biofuel requires substantial land, which is expensive. "Leave the algae alone". Low-tech Magazine. 4 Apr. 2008 - "Ponds also need a lot of space, because sunlight only penetrates the upper layers of a water body. It's the surface of the pond that counts, not the depth."
- Algae biofuel requires too much land, harming the environment. "Leave the algae alone". Low-tech Magazine. 4 Apr. 2008 - "Ponds also need a lot of space, because sunlight only penetrates the upper layers of a water body. It's the surface of the pond that counts, not the depth."
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[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Ecosystems: Is algae biofuel generally good for ecosystems?
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[ ] Yes
- Algae biofuel is biodegradable. One advantage of many biofuels over most other fuel types is that they are biodegradable, and so relatively harmless to the environment if spilled.
- Algae biofuel is a renewable resource. Glen Kertz, president and CEO of Valcent Products, told CNN while conducting a tour of his algae greenhouse on the outskirts of El Paso - "Algae is the ultimate in renewable energy."
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[ ] No
- This is expensive, and can also mean that new algae biofuel plants and ponds may alter local ecosystems.
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[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Water-use: Does algae biofuel use too much water?
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[ ] Yes
- Algal fuels do not impact fresh water resources. Algae can be grown in the ocean, freshwater, and wastewater and sewage. There is really no limit to the types of water in which algae can survive and thrive, and so where it can be produced into biofuel.
- Algae biofuel can grow in salt water, freshwater or contaminated water. There is no limit to the kinds of water where algae can be grown and used in producing biofuel. This contrasts sharply with many crops and fuels where much more specific location factors are at play. That algae biofuel can be produced in more places gives it an sot competitive edge over other fuels.
- Human waste and sewage can be used to grow algae biofuel. Nick Hodge. "Biodiesel Bliss - The Second Coming". Energy and Capital. 2 Apr. 2007 - "It is possible to use human sewage and wastewater from agricultural endeavors to enhance the growth of algae...In fact, when done right, algae can double and even triple overnight with the addition of these fertilizers...Compare that to the five-month growing season for soy or canola!"
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[ ] No
- Algae biofuel requires substantial quantities of water Algae requires pools of standing water - not just water in the soil - to grow. It, therefore, requires substantial quantities of water. It take a significant quantity of energy to get that water to algae biofuel farms. It also diverts water from other important resources, such as irrigation for food farms and for direct human consumption. "Leave the algae alone". Low-tech Magazine. 4 Apr. 2008 - "Algae need a lot of sunshine and huge amounts of water - how do you get seawater to the desert?"
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[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Clean coal: Is the use of algae to clean coal a good idea?
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[ ] Yes
- Algae can be used to filter C02 from coal plants and create biofuel. Power plants that emit large quantities of C02 can be fitted with algae biofuel systems, in which waste C02 is used by algae in the process of photosynthesis, creating as a result a useful biofuel. Lisa Colosi, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Virginia, supports this notion, arguing, "the main principle of industrial ecology is to try and use our waste products to produce something of value."[4]
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[ ] No
- Using algae to filter coal then burning it emits captured C02. "Leave the algae alone". Low-tech Magazine. 4 Apr. 2008 - "Algal fuel can even be considered a worse idea than "clean" coal. In the "clean" coal strategy, at least the CO2 is captured with the intention to store it underground. In the case of algae, the CO2 is captured only with the intention to release in the air some time later, by a car engine."
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[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Vs. solar: Is algae biofuel superior to solar power?
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[ ] Yes
- Algae biofuel is more practical than solar power. "Algae Biofuel Becoming a Reality?". EcoSherpa. - "It’s a big deal because algae don’t just create energy from the sun…they create energy from the sun more effectively than anything else save photovoltaic panels. And, as you may have guessed, they’re a heck of a lot cheaper than photovoltaic panels."
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[ ] No
- Solar power is greener and more efficient than algae biofuel. "Leave the algae alone". Low-tech Magazine. 4 Apr. 2008 - "The water issue is not the only 'detail' that threatens the energy efficiency of algal fuel. Compared to other plants, the photosynthetic efficiency of algae is high – almost 3 times that of sugar cane for instance. Compared to solar energy, however, the energy efficiency of algae is very low – around 1 percent, while solar panels have an efficiency of at least 10 percent, and solar thermal gets 20 percent and more. So why would we choose algae over solar energy?"
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[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Vs. other biofuels: Is algae biofuel superior to other biofuels?
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[ ] Yes
- Algae biofuel requires less land; good for the environment The United States Department of Energy estimates that if algae fuel replaced all the petroleum fuel in the United States, it would require 15,000 square miles (40,000 square kilometers), which is a few thousand square miles larger than Maryland, or 1.3 Belgiums. This is less than 1/7th the area of corn harvested in the United States in 2000.
- Algae does not require fresh water like other biofuel crops.
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[ ] No
- Algae biofuel will fail just like previous biofuels. "Leave the algae alone". Low-tech Magazine. 4 Apr. 2008 - "While the first generation of biofuels is wreaking havoc on the environment and the food markets, the second generation is getting ready to make things only worse. Behind the scenes, scientists are already working on the third generation, whatever that may be. In five or ten years time, when it becomes clear that algal fuel is devouring our water and energy resources and cellulosic ethanol is mining our agricultural soils, we will be promised that the third generation will again solve all the problems of the previous generation."
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[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Pro/con resources
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[ ] Yes
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[ ] No
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See also
External links
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