Algae: the Next Generation of Green Energy
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Algae: The Next Generation of Green Energy Coal industry should consider funding algal-based biofuel research to aid in greenhouse gas reduction and carbon sequestration Christopher Johns and Steven Le Ethics in Science Spring 2012 Algae: The Next Generation of Green Energy: Coal industry should consider funding algal-based biofuel research to aid in greenhouse gas reduction and carbon sequestration Tag Words: Clean Energy, Biofuel, Algae, Green Energy, Global Warming, Gas Crisis, Oil Dependency, Corn Ethanol, Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Nuclear Power, Renewable Energy Authors: Steven Le and Christopher Johns with Julie M. Fagan, Ph.D. Summary Our issue dealt with the failure of the United States to have an efficient alternative energy source, which could eventually develop into a replacement for regular petroleum gasoline. As of now the United States has tried other alternatives to generate cleaner and greener energy, however none of these has proved to be quite efficient enough for mass production. Each presents their own drawbacks, and for this reason, we sought to find a potential alternative clean energy source practical for the mass market. Through our research genetically engineered algal biofuels provided the answer to what we thought could be a possible alternative energy reservoir. With continued research and development, it is not a mistake to say, that algae could be the answer to our energy crisis. In the end we created a collection of what types of energy sources the United States has been relying on, and why algae could trump all of them. Using this information we formulated a research proposal and video to show the benefits of algal-based biofuels, in order garner more support for the industry and increased funding for research and development. Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLSguFxXtCg&list=UUts4_1WyqXMmVDfu9ZffstA&inde x=10&feature=plcp Introduction: As the globe continues forward with the consumption of valuable fossil fuels, concerns about the consequences are becoming more and more relevant. People need to be made aware the stores of the earth’s natural fossil fuels are not a never ending supply, because eventually Earth will eventually run out at the high rate industrialized nations are consuming them. Unfortunately there is no way to speed up time in order to make up for the loss stores of natural fuel, which leaves the human race with only a few reasonable options. One of the possible solutions is to look for alternative fuels that will eventually replace the consumption of fossil fuels. This would be the most beneficial. Not only will alternative fuels help our country break its dependence of foreign oil, but it will also promote a cleaner environment, especially when the effects of the excessive burning of fossil fuels have become quite apparent. With a look into a brighter future we would like to bring to light the alternative energy choices used today, and review their pros and cons. Ultimately, we would like to promote a newer choice of alternative fuel, which stems from genetically modified algae, and show how this new develop can be cost effective and more efficient than other alternative methods tired in the past. First, we will address America’s oil dependency and other alternative fuel options that have been exercised. Second, we will talk about the new genetically engineered biofuels from algae, in regards to where it is in development and what is needed to progress with this new alternative energy option. America’s Dependence on Fossil Fuel (CJ) In more recent times the American dependence on fossil fuel and foreign oil imports have become an important topic of discussion. Being dependent on anything is not a good habit to find oneself in, however in the United States situation, it has become unavoidable. The U.S. has topped its crude oil consumption at around 7 billion barrels per year, and over half of that amount comes from imports (Ganos). With the high amount of crude oil imported into the country, the U.S. economy experiences a lot of strain, which in turn lowers the overall living standard of American households. If the price for crude oil continues to rise, a $25 dollar increase per barrel will result in approximately 1% decrease of gross domestic product. As the payments of oil continue to be allocated towards the same oil producers, their bank accounts continue to grow, which increases their leverage over US capital markets (Deutch, and Schlesinger). Not only does this dependence leave our economy at the mercy of the overseas oil companies, but it proceeds to dictate our foreign policy as well. Unfortunately as the companies build up increasing amounts of high revenue from their oil exportation, the easier it becomes to enact policies that oppose those of the United States. This leads into another problem, in which the “political realignments that constrain the ability of the United States to form partnerships to achieve common objectives” (Deutch, and Schlesinger). Countries will begin to adopt policies in order to secure the continuation of oil imports. Not only may this cause some political strain, but it may also cause some general unrest in the people of that nation. The overall goal in the end is to be completely dependent on home grown resources to feed the energy needs of the country. Unfortunately, the United States is not completely there, because the technology to look for alternative energy sources have not been fully perfected yet (Ganos). Although some may not think about the depletion of oil on this planet, the sad truth is that this depletion is closer than one may think. This situation referred to as “Peak oil,” or the point in time at which the maximum rate of extraction occurs for a specific well, a field, a region, or the world, after which extraction quickly declines (Ganos). This projection for the world’s peak oil may occur in the next decade, which should be a glaring sign to the United States’ oil policies. However one of the major issues about this dependency, which is quite misunderstood, is that the high-energy prices will not go away if the United States just stops importation. Make no mistake, the oil prices will drop a little bit, but it is foolish to think that gas will once again be as cheap as it was in the early 1990s. With the diminishing sources for oil all around the globe, the demand for oil will not go away, which make prices, even for domestic oil, continue to rise. If the United States has any hope in becoming more oil independent it is going to have to encourage domestic companies to increase their oil production and search for new sources to sustain the high demand in the United States. Not only will help alleviate the strain on oil importation, but it will also encourage other countries to become more oil independent as well (Deutsch, and Schlesinger). This problem of oil dependency will not be an easy one to solve especially if the United States continues to rely on oil as a main energy source. However, there have been some changes made to look for alternative energy methods. Cars, one of the major problems with this oil dependency, are becoming increasingly more energy efficient. More cars are relying on larger fractions of biomass-derived liquids such as ethanol, but some engineers are looking for further expand the possibilities of cars running only on electricity (Deutch, and Schlesinger). In the end, the United States is making changes get out of this oil dependency rut it has dug itself into. Not only has it put the United States in an uncomfortable position economically and politically, it has helped to cause increasing environmental problems dealing with global warming. Hopefully with added awareness the United States will continue to support alternative energy options, which will reduce our dependency on foreign oil, and help reduce the accumulation of environmental damage accrued over the last few hundred years. Ethanol as Energy With the new advancements in technology over the past few years, the United States has been looking for ways to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Not only is it costing our country a lot of money to import oil from foreign countries, but also burning of these fuels has been producing harmful effects to our planet. With the onset of global warming due to excess green house gas in our atmosphere, and the ever rising oil prices, the need for alternatives to fossil fuels is becoming more and more of a necessity. Unfortunately, while many of these alternative fuels may look good on paper or in the production labs, a lot more thought needs to be worked in as to how automotive engineers can effectively construct a cost effective vehicle. While an automotive engineer can create a projected model of automotive efficiency, the bottom line is really whether or not it can be affordable as well. If what they produce is not nearly as cost effective as owning a standard car, the continual consumption of fossil fuels will never be stopped (Allen). However one option given to this problem has been the development of biofuel from ethanol. Luckily the development of ethanol has received a lot of support from the government, especially when it is seen as a way out of our dependence on foreign oil. President Bush gave a lot of support towards the development of ethanol. During his time in office, he brought forth the Advanced Energy Initiative, which created a renewable energy standard for the United States. This standard said by 2012 the US will require 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel to be circulated around the country, as well as improved tax benefits for anyone that used either one.