This thread is reserved for all the naysayers, doubters, haters, trolls, skeptical enquirers, and anyone else with a beef against algae for biodiesel or what have you.

I'll kick it off with a couple:

Algae oil is impossible to harvest

You'll never grow enough

The oil companies will stop you in your tracks

The oil is too expensive

The DNR won't let you do it

It's a waste of water


I'm not going to bother addressing any of these here. Most of these points should be covered as I and others build this open-source website with serious, documented information on algae. If you have a serious question, post it under the FAQs. If you have a gripe, smear, or attack you need to let out, post it here!

Thanks in advance!

There is a firm who can produce cheap dry algae
http://www.energymicrolgae.com

This message has been edited. Last edited by: aalgae,

quote:

The oil is too expensive

I don't think it is stupid. I do think it "works", depending on your definition of "works".

I do think it is a long way of from being a financially and energetically viable way to produce fuel.

As far as I know these issues have not been addressed. When/if they are, I will be happy to drive around on that fuel. When it can be done at home, I will be happy to do it.

I'd like to point something out to you:

It seems like you want to paint anyone who questions the ideas around algae as a person who wants to

quote:

gripe, smear, or attack

And must be

quote:

naysayers, doubters, haters, trolls, skeptical enquirers,

Interesting style of having a discussion. Seems kind of unproductive to me.

If you have good, well supported answers, then it would seem you would welcome questions, etc. No?

I don't understand why people want to get so emotional and champion an as yet unproven cause like they are defending a child or spouse.

If it works great, If it doesn't, it's not like you have been personally insulted.

The true viability and benefits of it can do are more important than defending a concepts reputation as if it was your girlfriend.

For now it doesn't work simply because it isn't working and no one is making it work.
That may or may not change in the future but why not let something develop and prove itself one way or the other instead of getting emotional about it?

There are all sorts of 'unconventional' sources of oil like algae, fly larvae, coffee grounds, etc. which might someday prove to be viable for fuel. Meanwhile there are oil sources like animal fat 'waste' from the huge industrial meat industry as well as VO 'waste' from the food processing industry which can be far more easily utilized. Research on how to maximize the fuel potential of these sources is probably a much better utilization of scarce research funds at this time.

Of course algae are stupid, so are most other vegetable sources of oil for fuel. These are not intelligent organisms.

quote:

Originally posted by john galt:
Of course algae are stupid, so are most other vegetable sources of oil for fuel. These are not intelligent organisms.

Plants work at peak efficiency 24 hours a day. I spend at least one hour of every 24 playing spider solitaire. Which is the smarter organism?

All ha-has aside, I'm finding it curious that this person would post an 'ad' for their 'cheep dry alage' under my tongue-in-cheek 'algae is stupid' post.

quote:

Plants work at peak efficiency 24 hours a day. I spend at least one hour of every 24 playing spider solitaire. Which is the smarter organism?

The plants always loose at spider solitaire; you're obviously smarter.

You're right. I should give myself credit for occasionally beating the wily spider...

You guys might like to stop bickering and read page 25 of New scientist 25 July 2009.

'Renewable Oilman'

A quick interview with Craig Ventner by Catherine Brahic.


You'll find it interesting.


dva

Here's the interview he's referring to:

Craig Venter: Programming algae to pump out oil