Zaremba, H. (2020). Why Is The U.S. Military Funding This New Biofuel Breakthrough?.
OilPrice.com. Retrieved 9 March 2020, from https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy
/Biofuels/Why-Is-The-US-Military-Funding-This-New-Biofuel-Breakthrough.html.
This article details how plans to harness energy from the sea up until now have not been successful. Tidal energy is not possible on a large scale in the US and even though it is in other countries, they have not utilized it. Also, attempts to use algal biofuel have not lived up to the hype as there is no cost-effective way to use it commercially. The Manchester Institute of Biotechnology has found a way for aquatic bacteria from sea water to create biofuels from agricultural and food waste. While algae needed very specific conditions to produce, these sea water bacteria can live in many environments. Reportedly, aquatic bacteria can produce clean-burning, cost-effective biofuels that do not compete for land with food.
This is the type of biofuel that I think can actually make a difference in our world. If these aquatic bacteria are as cost-effective as is being reported, they will be able to produce biofuels commercially. Producing biofuels this way could become popular, and reshape how we consume energy in the future. The fact that the bacteria would not compete with food for land means it also will not contribute to deforestation which is a major problem with the production of other biofuels. This article relates to environmental science because it details how we can take an organism and use it to solve issues that impact the habitats of the world’s wildlife and ecosystems.
While tidal energy is not possible on a large scale in the US, does this type show potential? I agree that it could make a difference in our world, but most companies tend to prioritize profit — is it super expensive?
I agree that producing biofuels this way could become popular, and reshape how we consume energy in the future.
I assume that a large limiting factor for tidal is the cost, and there probably needs to be extensive research done to determine the right course of action for tidal. It needs to be safe enough to not hurt the aquatic life and also efficient enough to be cost effective.
Thanks for your comments. Construction costs of tidal energy are very high which is why we do not see many companies working on it. In my opinion, the cost to profit ratio is too skewed for it to make a massive change without massive subsidies.