Tuesday, January 02, 2007

alternative source of biodiesel: algae or pond scum

jan 1, 2007

quite an intriguing idea: to use pond scum to generate power, in the process feeding it with CO2 and NOx and other waste gases.

i do hope they do not induce mutations in the algae that lead to the old B-movie staple of scum monsters such as "The Thing from Crater Lake" or whatever.

we are seeing necessity as the mother of invention. the arabs raising oil prices has this salutary effect on creativity as people explore alternatives with a vengeance. short term gain leads to long term loss for them. good, couldn't happen to a more deserving crowd.

http://news.com.com/Want+alternative+energy+Try+pond+scum/2100-11386_3-6145197.html

1 comment:

Ghost Writer said...

Rajeev,
Although this fuel generation process is pretty nice - I am not so sure about the Arabs inability to hit back, as this piece in the Opinion Journal shows
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110009464
Given how badly 'mortgaged' the US political leadership is to big biz - I doubt if this will see the light of day. I remember reading about (I think it was in Ralph Nader's book) a company in the US that tried to import hemp for producing reusable packaging products (grocery bags, lunch bags etc.) but got shut down on contrived charges of 'drug import' thanks to the plastic cartel.

I am not too optimistic on this one - a case of technology being behind the 'bribe curve'