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The Forum > Article Comments > Algal fuels key to nation's energy independence > Comments

Algal fuels key to nation's energy independence : Comments

By Julian Cribb, published 23/4/2013

Almost alone among 25 OECD countries Australia has no national strategic oil reserve.

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Shale oil, enough to last for a century? The economics of recovery is a factor, and the amount of processing another.
I mean shale oil produces four times the carbon of others oils, from raw product to usable fuel.
We likely have reserves to rival or eclipse the entire middle east, and in sulphur free forms that require little or no refining. (NG, sweet light crude.)
Our reaction? Lock away the most promising potential oil reserves in our marine economic zone.
It's not an either or, when it comes to our politicians, just neither.
The Algae plants currently operating in Australia, are just pilot plants, as was the massively subsidised Rundle project.
The difference being, once you've dug up your shale or whatever, it gone. It's a once only resource!
Whereas Algae, is a prospect that can just grow and grow as long as life is possible on the planet!
And growing it is the same as harvesting Co2 directly from the atmosphere.
Our real problems are myopically focused people like Julia Abbott or Tony Gillard, and all the others, who know nothing about either, you know what I mean?
Rhrosty.
Posted by Rhrosty, Wednesday, 24 April 2013 5:10:26 PM
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Putting algae in the same basket as solar and wind renewable, is like confusing coal with uranium.
They may produce similar outcomes, but are very different.
Detractors will tell you that nuclear power in Australia, is just pie in the sky, and even less viable than wind or solar power.
Those same detractors will tell you that the nuclear option is only ever viable with massive Govt subsidies.
And waffle on about the waste and how toxic it is.
Typically, those that see the nuclear option as a threat to the status quo, are the most vocal in their condemnation.
Ditto those that feel threatened by alga. Or rather the naturally occurring bio-fuels that it produces.
I remember as a very young man owning an old grey Massey Ferguson, that ran on power kero, (jet fuel).
We had to start it with petrol. But once the motor was warm and the kero warmed by the exhaust manifold, it was possible to switch over to kero.
Given we can produce a very light oil from algae, very similar to power kero, it ought to also be possible to run conventional internal combustion engines with it.
Most farmers could produce all the on farm fuel they need, just by growing a few tanks of algae, utilising just some of the organic material that collects and concentrates in yards, feed lots and dairies.
The best combination would be bio digesters, that make methane, which can be converted to methanol via a simple catalytic conversion process, and then used in lieu of petrol.
Alternatively, the methane can be made directly into electricity, via a ceramic cell; and then used to power pumps, household appliances, etc.
The resultant liqueur is a nutrient loaded medium that is then eminently suitable for continuous algae production.
The ex-crush material, suitable as fodder, or for ethanol production.
Entrepreneurial farmers could, after supplying all their on farm needs, run a servo, as a very profitable aside.
Very smart, given, we can rest assured energy prices are almost certain to rise, in the face of diminishing supplies.
Rhrosty.
Posted by Rhrosty, Thursday, 25 April 2013 9:23:20 AM
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I agree with the concept that algal fuels may well be the way of the future.

Also, the throught of Australia having basically no oil refining capacity is scary beyond belief.

However, what is the use of doing research if we have no company in Australia which can, or has even the least interest, in commercialising the research.

I find this a complete conundrum, as so few of our companies have any vision beyond the end of the trading day. How does Australia move forward with so little vision in our business community?
Posted by JEH, Wednesday, 1 May 2013 5:59:07 AM
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