With the call for alternative fuel still up in the air, the mass production for biofuels and biodiesels tries to adhere to the demand as US Biofuels Inc. sets to launch major green fuel production with recent gains from 12 greenhouses. Each greenhouse will be constructed and renovated for the purpose of growing algae in a closed system, using the photobioreactor (PBR) process for the production of Biofuel.

What is a PBR?

PBR is a bioreactor, which includes some kind of light source. Really any clear, translucent container could be called a PBR, but the term is more commonly used to define a closed system, as opposed to an open tank or pond. This system allows more species to be grown at a faster rate, extending the growing season, and if heated it can produce all year round.

US Biofuels looks forward to producing biofuel all year round from these greenhouses and hopes to complete the construction and renovations of the greenhouses by 2010. After which they anticipate to produce over 4 million gallons of biodiesel gas just from these 12 greenhouses alone.

US Biofuels is also currently researching new strains of algae to better manufacture more precise mixtures for products such as jet fuel and other special use products. Planning to open a chain of 145 resale locations throughout the nation, US Biofuels looks forward to producing alternative fuels and help America achieve a greener, cleaner environment.

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

Earlier this week I had posted an entry regarding the clamor for OriginOil since it carries the fuss about how algae is the next best thing in vehicle oil alternatives. Apparently, the Associated Press found their story worth covering as well, placing OriginOil in the limelight today.

During a visit to OriginOil’s Los Angeles headquarters earlier this month, a film crew interviewed both CEO Riggs Eckelberry and Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Vikram Pattarkine, regarding the company’s recent technology breakthrough to extract oil from algae in an efficient single-step process. A time-lapse video of the extraction process was then sent out to the Associated Press’ newspaper affiliates, which encompass more than half of the world’s population on any given day.

The recent AP Television segment, entitled “Could Algae Be Oil’s Next Competitor,” features commentary from Riggs Eckelberry on OriginOil’s “single pass, cost-effective process” to inexpensively crack algae’s tough exterior and release the oil inside, which can be viewed here.

“Oil, for the first time, is going to have a competitor,” said Eckelberry. “It’s not going to be the OPEC cartel against the rest of the world – it’s going to be local fuel production in all these countries, including the U.S.”

(Source) Press

Continue reading...