Floating Algae Pods

Earlier this year Jonathan Trent gave a talk on a proposed scheme to create energy using "floating algae pods."

Example Floating Algae Pod

 He notes that micro algae can produce anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 gallons of fuel per acre per year.  This is in contrast to other agricultural methods that produce no more than 50 gallons in the same time frame.

One reason that the scheme has potential is that many waste water treatment plants are close to large bodies of water where they allow the waste water to empty into the water.  Instead he proposes to collect the waste water in membranes and allow them to float until the sun allows the algae to grow.  The algae would then consume CO2 and create oxygen and fuel.

There are two primary forces that affect whether this techonology will take hold; namely, environmental and economic.

He indicates that there is no danger of an environmental disaster because the worst that would happen - the bags could break and allow the waste water to escape - is what already happens now as it flows freely into the water.

There is doubt whether the method is economically viable where one needs to get more out of the system than is put into it.  He proposes using the floating membranes to host fisheries and other things to help with their economic viability.