Biodiesel makes a lot of sense, but only if it is based in algae. Other forms of biodiesel pale in comparison.
To start with, algae can be grown in quantity in most of the US. Some types are as much as 50% vegetable oil. It grows in gray waste water, and helps to purify it in the process, and its growth is accelerated by adding otherwise expensive to dispose of waste CO2 and nitrous oxide gases. So even before it produces diesel, it is profitable.
Once the oil is squeezed out, the remainder can be sold as animal fodder. The oil is mixed with ethanol and common lye, which turns it into biodiesel. Then it is strained, and 1% petroleum diesel is added to it, as a preservative.
Diesel engines need just minor modifications to run on biodiesel, which has 96% of the energy of petroleum diesel. Diesel engines are also scalable, from motorcycle engines, cars, trucks, trains, to even ships. Manufacturers do not need to retool to make diesel engines, and they can be refueled at ordinary gasoline stations.
In other words, algae based biodiesel is head over heels of any other form of transportation energy. America could phase out most gasoline use in a decade with a slow and orderly change over to diesel engines. No need for coercion or spending vast amounts of taxpayer money.
Otherwise note that most research into algae biodiesel is being done by the oil companies, who have quietly built several test production facilities. These are people who know energy and engines.
Biodiesel from algae intrigues me because from what research I have seen on it, it seems feasible. I was talking to my sister, a bioengineer, about it because she once worked for a start-up that was trying to cultivate algae for vitamin A. I think she said that the problem was finding a cold water species that was suitable for northern climes. From memory, I saw at least one report that may have found a species in the waters of Washington or Oregon that could be a contender.
Do you have anything on a whole house diesel generator running biofuel with solar and battery backup ? ;-)
Do you have anything on a whole house diesel generator running biofuel with solar and battery backup ? ;-)