| The growing global demand for energy has caused a | | | | being ideal for biofuel production, are also consumed |
| steep rise in energy prices, notably for | | | | as food by people around the globe. Using these foods |
| petroleum-based fuels which are the prime source of | | | | for biofuel has pushed up their cost considerably, which |
| energy for most of the world's power plants, | | | | in turn has created food shortages in some areas of |
| machinery, and transportation. As more and more | | | | the world. This has produced an unexpected quandary |
| so-called "fossil fuels" are burned to create energy, | | | | for biofuel proponents. |
| there has also been a steep rise in the emission of | | | | If biofuel is ever to become a true alternative to fossil |
| polluting gases around the world. Personal automobiles | | | | fuels, a way is needed out of this quandary. One |
| are the main culprit, since they produce most of the | | | | possibility is the use of algae as a biofuel foodstock. |
| cardon dioxide (CO2) released daily into the | | | | Algae have the advantage of being a non-food |
| atmosphere. CO2 is considered a "greenhouse gas," | | | | source which can be produced in areas not already |
| trapping heat from the sun at the surface of the earth | | | | being used to grow other types of food. Corn, soy and |
| much the way a greenhouse traps heat inside its glass | | | | cottonseed must be grown on arable land. Algae can |
| walls. | | | | be grown in pools, in warm climates around the world, |
| Biofuels are by definition any fuel that, by being burned, | | | | and acre per acre algae yield over a hundred times |
| can be converted to energy, and that is produced | | | | the quantity of biomass of soybeans. |
| from a biological source. Since a biological source is | | | | Since algae take in, rather than produce, carbon |
| also a renewable one, biofuels are reproducible. Unlike | | | | dioxide, the very foodstock being used to create |
| fossil fuels of which there is a fixed amount on earth, | | | | biofuel can itself be a cause for a reduction in a |
| biofuels can continue to be produced so long as a | | | | significant greenhouse gas. Algae biofuel farms could |
| source of biomass is available. The types of raw | | | | therefore benefit from a dual income stream. The first |
| material that be converted into biofuel include organic | | | | is from the sale of the algae itself to refineries for the |
| plants, animals (especially animal fat), and even animal | | | | production of biofuel. The second is income generated |
| and human waste material. | | | | from the use of the algae farm as a consumer of |
| One type of fuel already being produced from | | | | other forms of pollution. |
| biological sources is biodiesel. This fuel, which burns | | | | Some companies have recognized the benefit to |
| cleaner than its petroleum-based cousin, can be used | | | | poorer communities of developing the market for |
| by most diesel engines without any need for | | | | biofuels while at the same time encouraging the |
| conversion. Many companies are already involved in | | | | development of foodstock supplies such as algae |
| the production and distribution of a form of biodiesel | | | | farms. These companies are planning to encourage |
| known as B20. B20 is a mixture of petroleum-based | | | | production of foodstock for biofuel in poorer countries |
| diesel and biofuel "diesel equivalent." | | | | to supply the energy needs of more developed areas |
| Biofuel is already being made from corn and soy, for | | | | of the world should raise everyone's quality of life, both |
| example. But using corn and soy has correspondingly | | | | in economic terms and in terms of encouraging a |
| driven up the demand for both foods, which while | | | | cleaner global environment. |