Algae fuel has become a hot topic as of late, and now Solix Biofuels has spiced up the conversation with a claim that it can cut the cost of growing algae by 90 to 95 percent.
Algae needs carbon dioxide for food and growth. Normally, CO2 is drawn from nearby power plants and injected into the algae tank in a costly and energy-intensive process. But Solix claims it has created a way for CO2 to swirl inside the tank in a passive manner, thus reducing costs drastically.
Instead of using bioreactors made up of plastic bags hung from racks like many other algae fuel companies, Solix makes its bioreactors out of flat plates. The flat shape increases the amount of light that can be absorbed by algae.
During optimal conditions, Solix estimates that it can produce 1,500 gallons per acre. In comparison, biofuel company Amyris says it can make 600 to 800 gallons per acre.
The truthfulness of Solix’s claims will come to light soon enough — the company is building a five-acre growth and testing facility in the coming year.
Photo Credit: Solix
Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!
Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
Former Tesla Battery Expert Leading Lyten Into New Lithium-Sulfur Battery Era — Podcast:
I don't like paywalls. You don't like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Here at CleanTechnica, we implemented a limited paywall for a while, but it always felt wrong — and it was always tough to decide what we should put behind there. In theory, your most exclusive and best content goes behind a paywall. But then fewer people read it! We just don't like paywalls, and so we've decided to ditch ours. Unfortunately, the media business is still a tough, cut-throat business with tiny margins. It's a never-ending Olympic challenge to stay above water or even perhaps — gasp — grow. So ...
