Don't Bet on Corn for Energy Independence

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Don't Bet on Corn for Energy Independence

May 09, 2007

This interesting article from Concord Monitor says why the world should say no to corn-based ethanol, and should instead look at ethanol from feedstock such as switchgrass, algae and cellulose.

Listen to some of the very-credible arguments.

One-fifth of America's corn crop is now fed not to people or livestock but to the ethanol factories springing up all over the Midwest.

Corn production is at a 63-year high, but prices keep rising. That's driving up the cost of meat, poultry and most other supermarket items. But those are the little problems with corn-based ethanol...there are much bigger problems.

America's bumper corn crop has been a big factor in feeding the world's poor. So have American surpluses in wheat and other grains. More corn for ethanol means more expensive grain for the poor, and is causing many other economic turbulences around the world.

Corn requires lots of nitrogen-heavy fertilizer. Corn needs a lot of water. So do the plants that turn it into ethanol - a half-million gallons per day or more. The water table is dropping in some ethanol-producing regions, and erosion and fertilizer runoff are increasing...

If every bit of corn now grown in the United States were converted to ethanol, it would meet only 12 percent of the nation's fuel needs for transportation alone...

Conclusion? Ethanol will have to be made not from crops like corn, or even soybeans or sugar cane, which reduce C02 emissions even more compared to oil. To be an alternative, ethanol will have to come from waste wood, weeds like switch-grass or perhaps even pond algae.

You would agree with the conclusion, wouldn't you?

Read the full article from here @ Concord Monitor


Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again

Oilgae; Oilgae Blog; List of Oilgae Blog articles.
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general.

Gold Coast Energy Firm Goes Green, to Get Oil from Algae

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Gold Coast Energy Firm Goes Green, to Get Oil from Algae

15 May 07

ICON Energy, the Robina-based oil explorer, has gone green in its latest venture with a plan to snare a stake in a US bio-diesel business.

The company, which for years has been searching for oil in Louisiana as well as the Surat Basin in Australia, has signed a letter of intent with PetroSun Inc of Arizona for a 20 per cent share of a licence to produce bio-diesel from algae.

The plan will see Icon establish a new bio-fuel company in Australia. PetroSun will also take a 55 per cent interest in Icon Energy subsidiary Icon Drilling.

Read the full story from this news report from Gold Coast Bulletin


Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again

Oilgae; Oilgae Blog; List of Oilgae Blog articles.
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general.

Algal Biodiesel: Fact or Fiction? - An Expert Speaks

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Algal Biodiesel: Fact or Fiction?

May 14, 2007

The author of the post says, "I originally wrote an article over a year ago in which I mentioned the potential of algal biodiesel. I still believe, as I did then, that biodiesel (or more broadly, renewable diesel) is a far superior fuel to ethanol for reasons I outlined in that essay. However, over the past year, the more I learned about the prospects of biodiesel from algae, the more it started to look to me like cellulosic ethanol: Technically feasible? Yes. Commercially feasible? Nowhere close, and the prospects don't look good any time soon. (However, as in the case of cellulosic ethanol, I believe the technology has some potential, so the government should fund the research)."

He then goes on to give a guest post from a man who knows as much about algae to oil subject as anyone else in the world - John Benemann.

An excellent post, to be read by all those interested in algae to oil. Depressing? Yes, the post does not give much optimism about algal biodiesel, but what the heck, it doesn't say it is impossible, just that the odds are heavily against it.

Read on from here @ R Squared Energy Blog


Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again

Oilgae; Oilgae Blog; List of Oilgae Blog articles.
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general.

Understanding Algae Biodiesel: A Grassroots Interview with Green Star Products' President

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Understanding Algae Biodiesel: A Grassroots Interview with Green Star Products' President

05/18/2007: Press Release from Green Star Products, Inc.

SAN DIEGO-- May 18, 2007--Green Star Products, Inc. (OTC:GSPI) (OTC:GSPI.PK), announced that biodiesel from agricultural crops can only replace a small percentage of the World's increasing need for diesel.

Algae can produce 50 to 100 times more oil per acre than oil crops (i.e. oil from soybean, corn, cotton, hemp, euphorbia, mustard seed, sesame, safflower, rice, tung oil tree, sunflower, peanuts, rapeseed, olives, jojoba, jatropha, coconut, palm oil, Chinese tallow, etc.).

Get the real story about the future of biodiesel production in the U.S.A. and Worldwide in this in-depth interview given to WallSt.net by Joseph LaStella, President of Green Star Products, Inc. You can hear the interview by using the following link http://www.wallst.net/audio/audio. asp?ticker=GSPI&id=3382.

Also see GSPI's two-minute documentary type video clip at GSPI's Website (GreenStarUSA.com) or directly at this link
http://video.google. com/googleplayer.swf?docId=595872956429027619&hl=en. (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

Green Star Products, Inc. (OTC:GSPI) (OTC:GSPI.PK) is an environmentally friendly company dedicated to creating innovative cost-effective products to improve the quality of life and clean up the environment. Green Star Products and its Consortium are involved in the production of renewable clean-burning biodiesel and other products, including lubricants, additives and devices that reduce emissions and improve fuel economy in vehicles, machinery and power plants. For more information, see Green Star Products' Web site at www.GreenStarUSA.com, or call Investor Relations at 619-864-4010, or fax 619-789-4743, or email info@GreenStarUSA.com. Information about trading prices and volume can be obtained at several Internet sites, including http://www.pinksheets.com, http://www.bloomberg.com and http://www.bigcharts.com under the ticker symbol "GSPI".

Forward-looking statements in the release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, continued acceptance of the company's products, increased levels of competition for the company, new products and technological changes, the company's dependence on third-party suppliers, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again

Oilgae; Oilgae Blog; List of Oilgae Blog articles.
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general.

GugBug - The Blog Co-operative

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GugBug - The Blog Co-operative

GugBug is a blog co-operative that posts regular reviews of blogs. Blogs participating in the GugBug Blog Co-operative can expect to get good exposure and traffic from being reviewed at GugBug.

The GugBug blog provides detailed reviews of blogs in its posts. Each blog that has been reviewed in return posts a review of GugBug in its blog. This way, all participants benefit from added exposure & traffic.

You can get to know more at GugBug


Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again

Oilgae; Oilgae Blog; List of Oilgae Blog articles.
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general.

Did You Hear about the Fuel from Seaweed?

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Did You Hear the One About the Seaweed?

By Hadas Kroitoru, April 29, 2007

Israeli company Seambiotic is using a new environmentally friendly technology to create a product contingent on the color green.

Seaweed is being brewed by Seambiotic in eight open pools on property belonging to the Israeli Electric Company (IEC). The company's smokestack emissions, otherwise polluting carbon dioxide, are being redirected to "feed" Seambiotic's algae, a product which goes on to feed animals, humans, and biofuel.

Using CO2 emissions from the electrical power plant not only prevents the pollutant from being released into the atmosphere, but it has proved two to three times more effective than using "clean" CO2, the primary element needed for algae growth.

Seambiotic, founded in 2003, grows marine micro-algae primarily for livestock feed and nutritional supplements for humans, an estimated $5-6-million-a-year industry. It can also use algae to create biofuel...

Read the full news report from here @ The Media Line

Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again

Oilgae; Oilgae Blog; List of Oilgae Blog articles.
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general.

‘Hydrogen economy’ a Boondoggle

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Here's an interesting "Comments to the Editor" I came across.

TO THE EDITOR: ‘Hydrogen economy’ a Boondoggle

Mon 07 May 2007
"
While the “hydrogen economy” receives much media attention, there are serious problems with hydrogen as transportation fuel. The first is hydrogen gas is extremely explosive. Hydrogen must be pressurised to 250 atmospheres for use as fuel, requiring corrosion-resistant tanks that don’t rust, spring leaks and explode. Hydrogen’s low energy density requires fuel tanks 14 times as large to yield the same driving range. To get a 1400 km range, a tractor trailer needs 168 gallons of diesel. Hydrogen vehicles would require 2360 gallons of hydrogen, stored at 250 atmospheres. Dedicating that much space to fuel storage would drastically reduce how much trucks could carry, while the costs of high-pressure, corrosion-resistant storage tanks, would be astronomical. The two main options for producing hydrogen, generating from water and extracting from other fuels, both have energy efficiencies below 100 per cent, (takes more energy to produce than you get). Hydrogen vehicles (currently $1 million each to produce) would need a widescale hydrogen fuel distribution system. With a single hydrogen fuel pump costing $1 million, installing six at each of the 176 000 fuel stations across the US is more than $1 trillion, costs completely avoided with biofuels that use our current infrastructure.

Algae instead of corn for bio-fuel

Algae multiplies so quickly and produces so much oxygen per square foot that ponds with a total surface area five times the size of Colorado would be enough to start to reverse our growing CO2 problem. Algae triples in volume every day. Corn, with one crop a year, nets about 81 gallons bio-diesel an acre (soy nets 40). Algae yields as high as 15 000 gallons an acre. Enough biodiesel to replace all petroleum transportation fuels could be grown in about 9.5 million acres, far less than the 450 million acres used for crop farming in the US, and the more than 500 million acres animal grazing land. Hydrogen is dangerous/explosive, extremely expensive and nets zero energy, that is, it uses more energy than it creates. Algae converts CO2 to O2, is 30 to 50 per cent oil and converts easily to bio-fuel. Conservation reduces present and future production of CO2. Algae reduces EXISTING CO2. The government needs to quit looking at corn and begin massive and wholesale funding and grants for algae. A new state agri-business of algae farms? Or grants for ocean farming? Algae, pond scum also a planet saver? Yes, if we take action!

Tami Freedman
Ooltewah
United States
"

Source: The Sofia Echo page

Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again

Oilgae; Oilgae Blog; List of Oilgae Blog articles.
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general.

GreenFuel & The Math on Turning Algae into Fuel

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The math on turning algae into fuel

Posted by Michael Kanellos, May 10, 2007

A number of companies have sketched out plans to convert algae into a feedstock for transportation fuel, but GreenFuel Technologies is farther along in bringing the concept to market than most.

The Cambridge, Mass.-based company recently trotted out reasons to illuminate why the idea is getting so much attention.

1. First off, algae grows rapidly and grows constantly
2. A hectare pond filled with algae can produce 15,000 to 80,000 liters of vegetable oil a year. Only about 6,000 liters of palm oil a year
3. Algae can also be converted into a variety of materials, insulating producers from changes in commodity prices to some degree. It can be turned into alcohol for ethanol, biomass that can be burned in a furnace, or animal feed (which can also be sold under the Soylent Green brand name in grocery stores).
4. GreenFuel plans to produce algae in ponds next to coal-fired power plants. The carbon dioxide from the plants is captured and provides the food for growing the algae.

So far, GreenFuel has only opened demonstration plant...By 2012, the company hopes to hit revenues of $100 million, and plans to license the technology...

Read the full news report from here @ Tech News Blog

Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again

Oilgae; Oilgae Blog; List of Oilgae Blog articles.
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general.

Green Star Completes Algae Phase I Demo Facility

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Green Star Completes Algae Phase I Demo Facility

Press release, May 11, 2007

SAN DIEGO - Green Star Products, Inc., announced today that it has completed Phase I of its 40,000 liter microalgae demonstration facility (see facility picture at GreenStarUSA.com).

GSPI demonstration facility is located in Montana and is one of the largest demonstration facilities in the world.

Phase I objective in this project is to determine the ability of the GSPI Algae Process System to solve the daunting operational problems for microalgae production, which have plagued the algae production industry for years.

Phase I now is complete and has been successful in controlling the most important variables in algae production, i.e. temperature of water in large systems, salinity (salt content), evaporation, pH (acidity-alkalinity) and most all initial costs of construction.

Mr. LaStella stated, "Experts agree that the major hurdles in production of algae are associated with the control of the mechanical and physical parameters of the growth environment for the algae and the high capital costs of construction of that environment."

Many suitable high-lipid (oil) algae species have been cultivated and already exits to produce the First Generation of sustainable energy farms. Present available algae species can produce 4,000 gallons of oil per acre each year, which is 50 times greater than the oil yield from oilseed crops such as soybean or canola crops. Recent news stories have publish the fact that the world is already experiencing significant increases in food prices because oil crops compete with food crops (Reuters May 8, 2007 – “United Nations tackles sustainable bioenergy growth”).

Algae farms, on the other hand, do not compete with food crops. Algae may be the only long-term feedstock solution for biodiesel production.

A report by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) states the following conclusions in relation to algae farms:

The DOE analyses indicate, "that significant potential land, water and CO2 resources exist to support this technology. Algae Biodiesel could easily supply several 'quads' of biodiesel - substantially more than existing oilseed crops could provide. Quad is short for 'quadrillion BTUs', which is a unit of energy representing 10 to the 15th level (1,000,000,000,000,000) BTUs of energy, which is also equivalent to approximately one billion gallons of fuel. This perspective led DOE to focus on the concept of immense algae farms.”

The DOE also states, “Microalgae systems use far less water than traditional oilseed crops. Land is hardly a limitation. Two hundred thousand hectares (less than 0.1% of climatically suitable land areas in the U.S.) could produce one quad of fuel. Thus, though the technology faces many R&D hurdles before it can be practicable, it is clear that resource limitations are not an argument against the technology."

Mr. LaStella explains, "The industry hurdles are mainly associated with costs of construction of algae farms and process systems that can economically control the growth environment of the algae. This is exactly the purpose of GSPI's Phase I demonstration algae facility."

Mr. LaStella further outlined the present state of the algae industry.

There are only two main types of algae production systems in use as follows:

A) Closed Photobioreactors

All attempts to use closed bioreactors for algae fuel crops have all failed. The failure of the closed bioreactors includes the $250 million dollar R&D program spent by Japan. Closed bioreactors are too costly, although they do have a place as a breeder facility (hatchery) for larger systems.

B) Open Pond Systems

The alternative system which is open ponds have had marginal success and are prone to multiple failures from many uncontrolled environmental conditions ranked in order: 1) Temperature and light variances – day and night, summer versus winter, etc.; 2) Infiltration from local algae into open ponds contaminating the cultured algae causing pond crashes; 3) Evaporation, wind blowing dust particles into ponds and rain causing changes in salinity and pH, which affect growth of algae.

The GSPI (licensed) algae system is a Hybrid Algae Production System (HAPS) that incorporates the controlled environment of the closed photobioreactors coupled with inexpensive construction technology to reduce the cost to a level very close to the open pond systems.

In summary, GSPI has developed the field expertise to build and operate the patent pending, proprietary Hybrid Algae Production System (HAPS), a cross between an open and closed pond system. The demonstration, prototype facility is located in Montana with an individual pond capacity of 40,000 liters, which can easily be scaled up to larger systems and acreage.

The GSPI enclosed HAPS have been designed to be constructed utilizing relatively inexpensive local materials anywhere in the world.

Three different pond construction methods (with the same overall design) were used to develop cost factors for time and capital expenditures to determine construction cost data.

The 40,000-liter pond with a four-man crew was assembled in less than 12 hours after the necessary construction materials were onsite. After the water flow commenced, tests for flow rates, mixing rates and pond day and night temperatures changes were charted.

During the test period, varied weather conditions occurred in Montana with temperatures varying from 34°F to 82°F, winds up to 30 mph, heavy rains, some snow, cloudy and sunny periods – all occurred during this time.

However, with the enclosed HAPS, several typical uncontrolled open-pond parameters were dramatically improved. For example, pond temperatures were 30°F to 36°F higher than the outside temperature on cold nights well above the optimum minimum growing temperature for algae of 64°F.

The HAPS also offer additional inexpensive external temperature controls, if necessary, to cool ponds in the hot summer and heat ponds in winter conditions, during extended sunless days, to maintain maximum growth conditions.

Also, algae cannot tolerate direct sunlight and they tend to grow best receiving 25% to 50% of direct sunlight. GSPI’s HAPS enclosed ponds have a partial light barrier with the enclosed material to promote optimum light conditions for algae photosynthesis.

Temperature and light control are the two most important parameters identified by industry reports and must be accomplished at an effective low cost. The next important parameter to be controlled is salinity. Open ponds continually evaporate large quantities of water and leave salt behind. Each time this cycle is completed additional salt water is added. Salt content continually increases and adversely affects the growth of the algae and must eventually be disposed of and exchanged with new water and algae. GSPI’s HAPS ponds do not evaporate the water and can maintain optimum salinity levels for long periods of time.

In summary, GSPI has already addressed the main causes of failures of other systems and we are now ready to inoculate the first HAPS’ pond with high-lipid (oil) producing algae.

See other recent GSPI press releases May 9, 2007 — “GSPI To File Full Disclosure Under New Pink Sheets Rules”; March 15, 2007 — “GSPI Consortium to Construct Algae-to-Biodiesel Facilities in Two Countries”; and March 7, 2007 — “De Beers Fuel Limited Increases Orders for Green Star Biodiesel Reactors.”

Green Star Products, Inc. (OTC:GSPI)(OTC:GSPI.PK) is an environmentally friendly company dedicated to creating innovative cost-effective products to improve the quality of life and clean up the environment. Green Star Products and its Consortium are involved in the production of renewable clean-burning biodiesel and other products, including lubricants, additives and devices that reduce emissions and improve fuel economy in vehicles, machinery and power plants. For more information, see Green Star Products' Web site at http://www.GreenStarUSA.com, or call Investor Relations at 619-864-4010, or fax 619-789-4743, or email info@GreenStarUSA.com. Information about trading prices and volume can be obtained at several Internet sites, including http://www.pinksheets.com, http://www.bloomberg.com and http://www.bigcharts.com under the ticker symbol "GSPI".

Forward-looking statements in the release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, continued acceptance of the company's products, increased levels of competition for the company, new products and technological changes, the company's dependence on third-party suppliers, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts
Green Star Products, Inc.
Joseph LaStella, President, 619-864-4010
Fax: 619-789-4743

Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again

Oilgae; Oilgae Blog; List of Oilgae Blog articles.
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general.

Land of algae, milk and biofuel!

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Land of algae, milk and biofuel!

Ed Taylor, Tribune, May 13, 2007

Milk and biofuel is an odd combination, but a Phoenix, Arizona-based company is planning to produce both. When fully built, the ag-industrial complex planned by the XL Dairy Group will produce 100 million gallons of ethanol, 25 million to 30 million gallons of biodiesel fuel and 21 million gallons of milk a year.

The concept is to use waste produced by the dairy cows to make energy that would be used to turn corn into ethanol and biodiesel, said Dennis Corderman, chief executive and chairman of XL Dairy Group. Byproducts of the ethanol and biodiesel production will be cycled back to produce energy for the biorefinery and to provide feed for the dairy cows.

The difference between this project and other ethanol plants is that this project will use waste streams from the dairy to produce its own energy - to provide the electrical and heat and steam energy for the entire facility. The operation will have an energy efficiency ratio of 10-to-1, where conventional ethanol plants have an energy efficiency ratio of about 1.2-to-1, he said.

So where does algae play a role in the scheme of things?





After the second phase goes into action, instead of corn, the company will use algae as the feedstock to produce both ethanol and biodiesel. XL plans to grow algae on 2,400 acres of adjacent state land, using manure water, carbon dioxide produced as a byproduct of the ethanol process and sunlight.

The company will propagate algae in a patent-pending system of horizontally mounted clear tubes.

Read the full report from here @ East Valley Tribune

Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again

Oilgae; Oilgae Blog; List of Oilgae Blog articles.
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general.

Oil from algae in Nevada, USA

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Oil from algae in Nevada

Infinifuel biodiesel plant in Wabuska uses geothermal energy and crops to create alternative energy

Karen Woodmansee, Nevada Appeal Staff Writer, May 13, 2007

Claude Sapp, principal for Infinifuel Biodiesel is now working to turn the oldest geothermal plant in Nevada into a biodiesel processing facility, where camelina oil seed and even algae is becoming diesel fuel. Sapp said any plant that produces high oil yields can someday power a vehicle.

He expects to have the first crop available in July, when a crop of camelina oil seed will be harvested and sent to a Lovelock plant to be crushed. Eventually, he hopes to have the plant ready to grow its own algae, which he said can be harvested monthly.

Read more from this news report @ Nevada Appeal

Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again

Oilgae; Oilgae Blog; List of Oilgae Blog articles.
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general.

Alabama Grant Furthers Cultivating Algae for Biofuel

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Do you know that oil derived from algae is an exciting renewable fuel possibility? - see Oilgae for more.

Alabama Grant Furthers Cultivating Algae for Biofuel

30 Apr 2007, via RenewableEnergyAccess.com

Gov. Bob Riley has awarded a $10,000 grant to Auburn University to conduct a study to determine the economic and technical feasibility of cultivating pond algae commercially as a source for biofuel, says the REA article.

The study will examine the growth rates of algae in Alabama and the technology currently available to harvest the algae and extract the oil needed for biodiesel. If the results of the study are favorable, the University will then start a two-acre pilot pond and develop one or more 10-100-acre demonstration ponds.

I'm wondering: 10,000 $? The oil industry spends billions trying to get the last drop of oil out of earth, and a promising alternative gets one-one-hundred-thousandth of a billion! Hmmph...

But let me not complain too much, guess got to be glad that some folks are willing to grant at least that much money. It could be worse, can't it be?

Read the full report from here @ Renewable Energy Access

Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again

Oilgae; Oilgae Blog; List of Oilgae Blog articles.
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general.