15 Year Old Invents Complete Algae Energy System
15 year old Javier Fernández-Han invented a truly innovative solution to meeting the basic needs of many of the world’s poor, and won Ashoka’s Invent Your World Challenge with his algae energy system, called VERSATILE. His holistic approach uses an efficient, modular system to meet multiple needs.
“An invention that is narrowly focused on solving a single problem often inadvertently creates more problems because nature is highly complex and interconnected.” - Javier Fernandez-Han
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Javier’s system is made up of 12 technologies in six subsystems, which can treat waste, produce methane and bio-fuel, and is a source of livestock and human food production. If that isn’t enough, it also produces oxygen and sequesters greenhouse gases, and can also be a source of income.
The basis of Javier’s system is salt-water loving algae, and the beauty of VERSATILE is the interconnectedness. The efficiency comes in part from the ability to take waste from one part and use it for nourishment for another, and the modular nature of VERSATILE allows customization to meet individual needs.
The VERSATILE subsystems are:
- An anaerobic digester, converting sewage and food scraps
- A bio-gas upgrader, turning the gases from the digester into nourishment for the algae, as well as producing fuel
- Vented methane burning stoves, a non-polluting and CO2 capturing device
- Algae bioreactors producing algae biomass and oxygen from sunlight, saltwater, and CO2, and using nutrients from the digester
- Flush latrines
- The PlayPump, which uses the energy of children playing to power the system as well as other devices
The benefits of the VERSATILE energy system include better health for villagers due to cleaner burning methane stoves, less deforestation due to wood scavenging for fuel, possible income from the sale of algae biomass for pharmaceutical or nutraceutical products, easier livestock production because of more availability of feed, LED lighting powered by electricity generation from the PlayPump, and a source of fuel for machinery (from algae oil).
Javier says that the system can be scaled up to provide for populations of 200,000 or more people, or scaled down for small populations. He is currently working to develop a family-sized system that could fit in a small house, with a cost estimated at $300.
Ashoka’s Youth Venture program promotes and invests in teams of young people around the world designing and launching their own lasting social ventures. The program enables youth to have the transformative experience of leading positive social change.
[Via Change.org]
There’s no innovation there…
You need to change the title to “15 Year Old Invents Complete Fantasy”- most of that diagram is just “Then a miracle happens”, especially the algae culture part.
Anyone who has any experience in continuous culture would either look at that diagram and laugh themselves to death or run away screaming.
Even the simple looking parts in that diagram are fraught with peril- just google DisneyWorld’s experiment with moving CH4/CO2 from cattle feedlots in Gainesville for a little education in what’s involved.
Well John, you can cross crushing a 15 year olds dreams off your list.
The comment above is dissappointing. Is this a real idea or is the writer for this article trying to mislead everyone?
Does the writer of this article have any idea whether this makes sense or not?
This is “CleanTechnica.Com” not “Big Foot sightings in the deep woods!!”
Well the article indicates that Javier is in the process of developing a “family sized system”, so hopefully Derek Markham will keep tabs on this story and update us if/when this project comes to fruition.
Hi Haters, how many complete algae energy systems have you taken a crack at designing lately? I hope this is the first of many steps for this young person in doing something good for the world. Good luck, Javier.
I agree with Terrence. Let the child dream big. He’s doing what most of us complain about not being done. We should listen to all ideas people have that cut down on waste and are beneficial to the population and environment alike.
aren’t their a bunch of giant ponds in Texas creating this algae energy…and I don’t care if it’s fantasy or not, if he can get Obama to believe it, maybe he won’t tax cows for farting.
I have to agree with the first comment, designing an algae cultivation system and actually building one are two very different things. What species will you use to get the best balance between growth and bio-oil content? How do you plan on harvesting the algae and extracting the oil? And the PlayPump idea is rather vague…you might as well just save the energy by not
feeding the children the extra food they would need from working so hard on the pump.
Well John Thomas, what have you done lately to make this world a better place? Or have you even tried?
The article says he’s in the process. Good Luck and more power to you Javier!
Wow, that is amazing. One VERY smart kid there!
RT
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