Despite great advances in the energy generation, human industry continues to rely largely on fossil fuels as the main source of its everyday energy requirements. While electricity can be generated with clean energy sources like wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy, it cannot be effectively used to power large industrial systems or most means of transportation, such as ships, trains, or trucks. Indeed, some, like air travel, seem likely to remain entirely outside the realm of these renewable energy sources for the foreseeable future; planes do not fly on electricity. Furthermore, electricity cannot be stored efficiently for future use, it must be used as it is generated.
Most industrial processes consume large amounts of energy or generate extremely high temperatures and require an inexpensive fuel source with a high energy content to operate efficiently; thus, fossil fuels were the best alternative for powering these systems, until now.
It is also well known that the main disadvantages to the extensive use of fossil fuels are the continued emissions of GHGs generated when they burn and the depletion of worldwide fossil fuel reserves due to their non-renewable nature. Algae is a viable alternative that eliminates these problems while providing enough energy to power large scale industrial processes and means of transportation. By generating algae the carbon cycle is completed and the oxygen consumed during combustion is replaced, helping to restore the atmospheric gas balance that is upset by the continued use of fossil fuels. Algae can also be stored and transported for future use at a different location, and can be continuously and sustainably produced.
Algal biomass can produce the same amount of energy as the equivalent amount of coal, and can be refined to produce higher grade fuels such as diesel and ethanol among others. Implementing Algae Production Systems in a large scale can provide enough energy to replace fossil fuels used in most industrial processes and means of transportation, which account for the vast majority of GHG emissions. Algae is the only fuel alternative that is renewable, clean, portable and can be produced industrially with high yields to offset and reverse the negative effects of fossil fuels on the environment.
ENERGY CONTENT
Pond Biofuels has received third party analysis and validation of its biomass, with results indicating that dried algae is suitable as a direct replacement for coal and coal derived fuels. Pond Biofuels algae produces in excess of 9,400 BTU/lb when burned.