WSJ - Bill Gates Goes For Algae, Invests in Biofuel Maker Sapphire Energy

Bill Gates is plunging his hands into pond scum.

"Cascades Investments LLC, Mr. Gates’ personal investment vehicle, is backing Sapphire Energy, a start up working towards a commercial-scale facility to produce oil from algae. And by all indications, he is not trying to save the world from its petroaddiction. He’s trying to make some money."

Funds incoming for Algal Biodiesel Production.

Green Plains Renewable Energy approved for $2,190,407 grant for Algal Biodiesel

Teaser: "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 (38,849 square kilometers), which is a few thousand square miles larger than Maryland."

Algae Oil

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/328499_inventure22.html

Just a Coincidence.

I was just wondering today whether a process that starts with algae could produce a fuel appropriate for aircraft.

Then this shows up in my email.

Algae Oil Estimation

From www.coloradoan.com:

"Algae only uses water as its source for hydrogen, which allows researchers to produce very high yields per acre — maybe 50 to 100 times more than soy or canola while using 1 percent to 2 percent of the water, Willson said."


If these numbers were to be demonstrated... damn... what a solution.