Biodiesel from Algae

While a number of bio-feedstock are currently being experimented for biodiesel (and ethanol ) production, algae have emerged as one of the most promising sources especially for biodiesel production, for two main reasons (1) The yields of oil from algae are orders of magnitude higher than those for traditional oilseeds, and (2) Algae can grow in places away from the farmlands & forests, thus minimising the damages caused to the eco- and food chain systems. There is a third interesting reason as well: Algae can be grown in sewages and next to power-plant smokestacks where they digest the pollutants and give us oil!

Though research into algae oil as a source for biodiesel is not new, the current oil crises and fast depleting fossil oil reserves have made it more imperative for organizations and countries to invest more time and efforts into research on suitable renewable feedstock such as algae.

So, is Oil from Algae the Future?

The answer to the question: We don't know, not yet.

While algal oil certainly appears promising, it should be pointed out that lots more inputs need to be analysed and further experimentations done before one can be sure of algal oil being a worthy large-scale substitute for petro-diesel. In theory, algae have the potential to be a major fuel resource. In practice, however, there are many questions to be answered and multiple issues to be resolved before biodiesel can be produced sustainably & affordably on a large-scale from algae.

In order that these questions are answered and the issues resolved, we feel that a significant amount of research needs to be undertaken, possibly with a lot more attention from the major governments of the world. We might require a massive, focussed effort.

But there are no signs of such a massive amount of research being done in the field of oil from algae, though one would imagine that the need for a suitable alternative energy source is as critical a problem as we have ever faced. For sure, research is being conducted by some brilliant and devoted scientists, but we fear that these will not be enough.