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Help support AmericanEnergyIndependence.com Biodiesel
American Energy Independence will be achieved when all cars, trucks and buses on U.S. highways are powered by transportation fuels produced in the USA. Is it true that alternative fuels made from America's own natural resources will always be more expensive than gasoline made from Middle East oil? Yes, if the price of gasoline at the pump is less than $2 per gallon… However, gasoline is selling above $2 per gallon in the USA now, and will likely remain high. (If prices drop below $2 they will increase again.) In addition, if you look at the hidden cost of the U.S. military to police the Middle East, including American lives lost, wounded, ruined; How much does gasoline really cost? Next time you buy gasoline, ask yourself the following questions:
The U.S. government has been forced to spend more than $500 billion dollars
since the 1991 Gulf war, for expenses directly attributable to America’s
oil dependence: More than $500 billion for
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other costs overseas, and more than
$250 billion for
domestic security. And, more than 3,000 U.S. troops dead in
Iraq, more than 350 dead in Afghanistan, with more than 24,000 wounded
in both countries. Islamic terrorism is
one of the hidden costs of imported oil. If, after the first Gulf War in 1991, the people of the United States had demanded their government invest $500 billion dollars (less than the amount the U.S. has spent for costs directly attributable to foreign oil dependence during the past ten years) into the construction of algae farms, for the production of sustainable renewable biodiesel, we would be living in a different world today. Widescale
Biodiesel Production from Algae As more evidence comes out daily of the ties between the leaders of petroleum producing countries and terrorists (not to mention the human rights abuses in their own countries), the incentive for finding an alternative to petroleum rises higher and higher. The environmental problems of petroleum have finally been surpassed by the strategic weakness of being dependent on a fuel that can only be purchased from tyrants. The economic strain on our country resulting from the $100-150 billion we spend every year buying oil from other nations, combined with the occasional need to use military might to protect and secure oil reserves our economy depends on just makes matters worse (and using military might for that purpose just adds to the anti-American sentiment that gives rise to terrorism). Clearly, developing alternatives to oil should be one of our nation's highest priorities. In the United States, oil is primarily used for transportation - roughly two-thirds of all oil use, in fact. So, developing an alternative means of powering our cars, trucks, and buses would go a long way towards weaning us, and the world, off of oil. While the so-called "hydrogen economy" receives a lot of attention in the media, there are several very serious problems with using hydrogen as an automotive fuel. For automobiles, the best alternative at present is clearly biodiesel, a fuel that can be used in existing diesel engines with no changes, and is made from vegetable oils or animal fats rather than petroleum. In this paper, I will first examine the possibilities of producing biodiesel on the scale necessary to replace all petroleum transportation fuels in the U.S. Read the entire paper: After you finish reading the above paper by Michael Briggs, read Water For All. Then we will take a closer look at Michael Briggs' numbers and combine his proposal with the concepts presented in Water for All. We will also reference the figures from Algae ponds at wastewater treatment plants. Because this web site is intended for an American audience, all references to meters or hectares will be converted and presented in feet or acres. You do not need to be an engineer or mathematician to understand the following examples. If you can balance your checkbook, you have the skill to “Do the math,” and prove to yourself and others that American Energy Independence can be achieved with alternative fuels like biodiesel. Consider if you will, a treaty between the United States and Mexico, where Mexico grants the U.S. a permanent right-of-way to the Gulf of California for the purpose of building a seawater canal that will transport a large and continuous flow of seawater from the Gulf of California into the USA. For the sake of discussion, let us assume that a canal has already been built between the Gulf of California and the Salton Sea; and that the Salton Sea will serve as a transfer reservoir. Visualize a large aqueduct between the Salton Sea and Death Valley where a second inland sea has formed, approximately the size of the Salton Sea. From these two inland seas, several aqueducts extend out into the deserts of the Southwestern United States; Reaching into Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. Of the many and various farms, ranches and communities served by the aqueducts, there are forty-thousand algae farms, having a total water surface area of 250 acres each. Two-hundred and fifty acres multiplied by forty-thousand farms equals a total of ten million acres of shallow water algae ponds, dedicated for the purpose of producing biodiesel. Each farm would have many ponds. Here is a picture of what a single pond
might look like: These are salt water algae ponds. Increasing levels of salinity caused by evaporation will be a problem. However, the problem can be solved by diluting the ponds with fresh water produced from desalinated seawater. Whenever new seawater, taken from the aqueduct, is added to the pond, desalinated seawater can be added too. Solar energy can power the desalination equipment. A new industry would develop to capitalize on the salt and minerals extracted from the process of desalination. The readily available seawater solves the problem of evaporation, allowing full exploitation of the abundant sunlight. And desalination provides a source of local fresh water to dilute the salty pond water, keeping the salinity levels constant. Solar ponds can be built adjacent to the algae ponds to provide heat during cold desert nights. 1 hectare = 2.47 acres. Michael Briggs gave an estimate of $80,000 per hectare for the construction costs to build the algae ponds. $80,000 divided by 2.47 = 32,390 rounded. We will say $32,500 per acre. $32,500 times 250 acres = $8,125,000 construction costs for a 250 acre algae farm. $8,125,000 times 40,000 farms = $325,000,000,000 to construct ten million acres of algae ponds. That is Three Hundred and Twenty-Five BILLION dollars to construct the algae ponds. This does not include the cost of constructing the many distributed biorefineries that will be needed to process the algae and make the biodiesel (and to make the 10% methanol ingredient, etc.) Several adjacent algae farms could co-op a biorefinery, and/or the biorefinery could be the industrial center that defines an algae farming community. Michael Briggs also provided an estimate of $12,000 per hectare for operating costs (including power consumption, labor, chemicals, and fixed capital costs). $12,000 divided by 2.47 = 4,860 rounded. We will say $5,000 per acre for operating costs. $5,000 times 250 acres = $1,250,000 annual operating costs for a 250 acre algae farm. The University of New Hampshire Biodiesel Group web site provided the following information on their Algae ponds at wastewater treatment plants web page:
5,000 to 20,000 gallons per acre per year. That is a wide range. Will seawater provide enough nutrients? Would micro algaes grown in waste streams be more productive than algaes grown in seawater? In his paper, under the section titled: How much biodiesel, Michael Briggs concluded that 140,800,000,000 (140.8 billion) gallons of biodiesel could replace 100% of the petroleum transportation fuels consumed in the United States annually, without requiring a big change in driving behavior or automotive technology. Although he did assume everyone would switch to diesel engines because of the superior efficiency of diesel compared to gasoline engines, and he did point to the new diesel-hybrid cars and trucks that are now becoming available, and the promise of new diesel engine technology on the horizon. (And, of course Michael Briggs was not implying that existing gasoline engines would run on biodiesel. The purpose of the paper is to answer the question HOW MUCH BIODIESEL is needed to free the USA from oil dependence. Some people at Exxon Mobil believe that no amount will ever be enough to replace oil.) 140.8 billion gallons divided by ten million acres = 14,080 gallons per acre. If the algae ponds fail to yield enough micro algae oil to produce 14,080 gallons of biodiesel per acre per year, then ten million acres will not be enough to yield the target goal of 140.8 billion gallons per year. Hey, we have plenty of fresh seawater, lots of sunshine and unlimited enthusiasm, so we will assume the algae ponds average 15,000 gallons per (pond surface area) acre, per year - if not, we will hire the best plant geneticists money can buy, and breed those little algae until they reach super algae status! Based on Michael Briggs’ estimates, we were able to show that an algae farm with 250 acres of pond surface area would have $1,250,000 annual operating expenses. 15,000 gallons per acre times 250 acres = 3,750,000 gallons per algae
farm per year. 10,000 gallons per acre times 250 acres = 2,500,000 gallons per algae
farm per year. 5,000 gallons per acre times 250 acres = 1,250,000 gallons per algae
farm per year. Did Michael Briggs’ estimates of operating costs include the cost of the initial capital investment? How much will it cost to pay off the $32,500 per acre loan for the initial construction costs (the $80,000 per hectare)? That is: $32,500 times 250 acres = $8,125,000 construction costs for a 250 acre algae farm. Let us assume a Zero Interest Loan over 20 years with a single payment of 1/20th of the principle due each year. $8,125,000 divided by 20 years = $406,250 cost of debt per year per 250 acre algae farm. $406,250 divided by 3,750,000 gallons = 10.8333 cents per gallon cost of debt (at 15,000 gallons per acre). $406,250 divided by 2,500,000 gallons = 16.25 cents per gallon cost of debt (at 10,000 gallons per acre). $406,250 divided by 1,250,000 gallons = 32.5 cents per gallon cost of debt (at 5,000 gallons per acre). Worst case scenario at 5,000 gallons per acre = $1.33 per gallon total expense (operation costs + debt payments) The worst case scenario total expense of $1.33 is for FEEDSTOCK only, and does not pay for the processing at the biorefinery to produce the final consumable gallon of biodiesel. If the annual yield is only 5,000 gallons per acre, then the worse case scenario for feedstock is $1.325 times 42 = $55.65 per barrel of oil equivalent. If the annual yield is 10,000 gallons per acre, then we would see a more rosy scenario for feedstock at .6625 cents times 42 = $27.83 per barrel of oil equivalent. If the annual yield is 15,000 gallons per acre, then the cost of producing algae biodiesel feedstock would be .442 cents times 42 = $18.56 per barrel of oil equivalent. Very competitive with petroleum at low prices. Don’t’ forget we have not added a profit yet. If the farm earned 10 cents per gallon profit, then: 15,000 gallons times 250 acres times 10 cents = $375,000 per year net earnings. 10,000 gallons times 250 acres times 10 cents = $250,000 per year net earnings. 5,000 gallons times 250 acres times 10 cents = $125,000 per year net
earnings. The U.S. congress can pass legislation to make this happen, with the condition that each of the 40,000 farms be given to qualified farmers. The qualifications would be pre-defined in the legislation. Corporations and foreign entities would not qualify. Only United States farmers could qualify—Willie Nelson farmers. You can’t get any more American than that. And, it would not be socialism. It would be 21st century compassionate Americanism, while allowing our nation to pursue its own selfish interest—Achievement of Energy Independence. Adam Smith would be proud. • The 250 acre farm in the above example describes 250 acres of pond surface area. The actual land area required for each farm would be more than 250 acres, in order to include space for roads and processing facilities. It is extremely important for all Americans to know that energy independence is possible now. On this web page we have presented an example showing that it is possible to replace 100% of our petroleum transportation fuels with home-grown biodiesel. However, it is only an example, and one of many ways that the United States can move to energy independence. Keep in mind that it may not be wise to focus entirely on only one type of renewable fuel.
NOTICE: Experience with open pond algae production has shown significant problems. Although the final stage of algae oil production—converting the lipids into biodiesel—is a proven cost effective process, growing the microalgae lipids in open ponds is not so easy. Unfortunately, the high yield, high lipid-content algae strains are contaminated when grown in open ponds. The open ponds are invaded by local species, which are often low lipid-content algae strains that dominate the weaker high-lipid algae; causing lipid production to suffer. One company, LiveFuels is funding research that will genetically alter the algae, attempting to develop a dominate high-lipid strain. A closed system solves the problem, but: Open ponds are desirable because they are less expensive than a closed system, similar to the cost differences between conventional farming and hot house farming. Where the hot house delivers advantages, but at a much higher cost. Open ponds make possible large inexpensive surface areas which allow shallow ponds where light can easily reach the algae. The dark color and thickness of the algae blocks the light in deep ponds or closed raceways. A closed system requires expensive lighting, and expensive covering. Breaking News: Chevron
and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to Collaborate
on Research to Produce Transportation Fuels using Algae —A joint
effort to identify and develop algae strains for feedstock in next-generation
biofuels
[NREL operated the Aquatic Species Program for the Department of Energy
for nearly 20 years]. More News: Startup Company teams with Chevron on algae fuel —Solazyme, a Bay Area startup company that makes diesel fuel from algae, will work with oil giant Chevron to perfect its technology. Solazyme has already spent years working with different strains of algae to create fuel... Now Solazyme needs to increase its production and drive down the cost. That's where Chevron comes in... If all goes according to Solazyme's plans, the company should be able to produce biodiesel at a commercially competitive price within two or three years... The company wants its fuel to be cheap enough to compete with petroleum diesel even if oil prices fall back to $50 or $45 per barrel. Here Comes Pond Scum Power — Algae biodiesel isn't practical yet, but startups and giants are enthusiastically exploring the possibilities Algae-Based Fuels Set to Bloom — Oil from microorganisms could help ease the nation's energy woes. Biocrude? Algae-to-oil project aims to deliver — U.S. Energy Dept., company partner to seek cost-effective production. Honeywell's UOP win a US military biofuels contract — to commercialise a process to convert vegetable and algal oils to JP-8 jet fuel as research into aviation biofuels accelerates worldwide. Hydrogen from Algae —Genetically modified algae could be efficient producers of hydrogen and biofuels. BIOFUEL AS AN OIL ALTERNATIVE — PBS Newshour segment on biofuels, April 13, 2006 Green diesel: New process makes fuel from plants — Researchers have discovered a new way to make a diesel-like liquid fuel from carbohydrates commonly found in plants. Former weed
may fill world's fuel tanks —In the world's most arid agricultural
environments, jatropha is emerging as an alternative to ethanol. DaimlerChrysler has developed a diesel car that gets more than
70 miles per gallon: Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility Tiny Microreactor For Biodiesel Production Could Aid Farmers, Nation Ultrasonic Transesterification of Oil to Biodiesel—Ultrasonication can improve the commercial conversion processing (transesterification) of vegetable oils (e.g. canola, soy, corn oil and alternative feedstock) or animal fats to biodiesel by improved mixing and enhanced chemical activity. Butanol is an oxygenate which can replace gasoline —Butanol can be blended in any percentage with gasoline seamlessly without loss of performance. Butanol can be used in Biodiesel applications. Butanol can be made from anything that grows on the planet not just corn.
Increasing Plant Enzyme Efficiency causes rapid plant growth and increased absorption of CO2
Making Fuel from Biodiesel Waste D1-BP Fuel Crops —a new company D1 Oils plans to ciltivate Jatropha curcas – a drought resistant, inedible oilseed bearing tree which does not compete with food crops for good agricultural land or adversely impact the rainforest – to make biodiesel feedstock on a large scale. forums: References:
Growing Algae in Bioreactors:
Biodiesel YouTube videos:
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