Proposal of researching biofuels

Microalgae are capable of becoming a new source of energy. Microalgae are renewable energy and it is the answer to the world’s energy supply. If we decide to build raceway ponds for microalgae we can accomplish many things. I want to inform you of three ways researching biofuel will be beneficial to the world.

Fuel is starting to become scarce, and we need to provide a backup plan just in case we run out. Instead of depending on fuel from other foreign countries, we should create our own. If we create our own, it will cut the cost for fuel half the price it is now. The price will be cut for suppliers and demanders. It will save us money from having to get the oil as well as transport it. These benefits are discovering a new source of energy, helping the environment instead of destroying it, and capitalizing on the innovation.

Purpose

The purpose of changing our motive to researching biofuels is that doing this innovation will put our corporation at the top. We will save billions of dollars and also make billions of dollars. It’s a cheaper substitute than regular diesel, but it does the same thing if not better. So it is a win-win situation. We will persuade other companies to follow in our footsteps to make different types energy.

Scope

The rest of the proposal consists of more analysis on the research on biofuels. Important information that I acquired during my research on biofuels can be found on the submitted memos (Appendix).

Analysis of available information

Putting our research toward biofuel can help us overthrow our other competition such as Exxon. According to the article “Exxon at Least 25 Years Away From Making Fuel from Algae”, Exxon put investment into research for algae fuel for four years but they pulled away from it because it would cost too much money and take too much time (Carroll). They failed to put effort toward something that can change the way we get our energy. The cost of this research would be $600 million. Solazyme is benefiting from biofuels in its ten year run. This corporation is using the biofuel for fuel, chemical, nutritionals, and personal care (http://solazyme.com/technology).

I believe that this research on algae fuel will make us a more successful corporation than Exxon, and we may even change the world. According to the article entitled “Opportunities and challenges for a sustainable energy future” This Perspective puts these opportunities into a larger context by relating them to a number of aspects in the transportation and electricity generation sectors. It also provides a snapshot of the current energy landscape and discusses several research and development opportunities and pathways that could lead to a prosperous, sustainable and secure energy future for the world (Chu and Majumdar).

Biofuel Overview

Algae are among the most potentially significant sources of sustainable biofuels in the future of renewable energy. A feedstock with virtually unlimited applicability, algae can metabolize various waste streams (e.g., municipal wastewater, carbon dioxide from industrial flue gas) and produce products with a wide variety of compositions and uses (Menetrez, 2012).

Biofuel advantages

Biofuels have a significant number of positive outcomes, (see the list below).

• Biodiesel requires no engine modifications to use in diesel-powered vehicles. However, there can be certain breakdowns depending on the previous use of the vehicle with traditional #2 diesels.

• Biodiesel is non-toxic and biodegradable. Any spillage in the production or transportation process will have less impact on the environment. Large biodiesel spills may still need some form of treatment.

• The production process can turn used oils, greases, and fats into a fueling product. These include used cooking oil and greases, which can be obtained inexpensively or free as some have no other uses and

• Biodiesel can be used as a more environmentally friendly replacement for home heating oil (http://greenthefuture.com/BIODIESEL_PROSCONS.html).

Biofuel disadvantages

Although biofuels are beneficial to us, it has its down sides like any other product put on the market.

• Biodiesel can gel in colder weather. The gel point is a function of the feedstock and mixture of biodiesel to diesel.

• Many producers have been unable to produce biodiesel that meets ASTM 6751 quality due primarily to their inability to remove all impurities and water during the washing and refining processes.

• The EPA found that the use of B20 can reduce fuel efficiency by 1 to 2%

• The biodiesel production process is highly combustible due to the chemicals used.

This is not uncommon depending on the setting (http://greenthefuture.com/BIODIESEL_PROSCONS.html).

Competitors’ Success

According to the article “5 Companies Making Fuel from Algae Now” Solazyme claims that it is on track to produce over 20,000 gallons of fuel for the Navy by 2010. The company hopes to bring the cost of its fuel down to $60 to $80 per barrel within next two to three years (Jacquot). Algenol Biofuels is another competitor and they are having a lot of success with their biofuel experimentation.

In the article “Dow Plans Algae Biofuels Pilot” The project is contingent on Algenol’s receiving a Department of Energy grant for up to $25 million, or no more than half the cost of the $50 million facility. The rest of the capital would be provided by Algenol, which would also own and operate the plant. Dow would contribute 25 acres of land, the CO2 supply, and technical expertise (Voith). The Department of Energy gave them a grant for $25 million which is incredible.

Meeting the demand

In the article “Biofuels from microalgae” unfortunately, biodiesel from oil crops, waste cooking oil and animal fat cannot realistically satisfy even a small fraction of the existing demand for transport fuels. As demonstrated here, microalgae appear to be the only source of renewable biodiesel that is capable of meeting the global demand for transport fuels (Chisti, 2007). Our demand for biofuel isn’t up to part to be put out on the market just yet. But with time, effort and money we can accomplish the task at hand.

Global warming

Today, anthropogenic CO2 emissions, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels, also far outpace nature's CO2 recycling capabilities, contributing significantly to the current global warming problem (Prakash, Olah, and Goeppert). According to “Alternative fuels: An overview of current trends and scope for future” use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in a substantial reduction in unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides. Different alternative fuels have been compared with the conventional fuels, and clearly the consumption of the latter can be significantly decreased by the use the blended fuels (2014).

Refining Methods

The article “Review on biofuel oil and gas production processes from microalgae” mentions that by using thermochemical processes, oil and gas can be produced, and by using biochemical processes, ethanol and biodiesel can be produced. The properties of the microalgae product are almost similar to those of offish and vegetable oils, and therefore, it can be considered as a substitute of fossil oil (Amin, 2009). Conversion processes can be applied to microalgae to make it a biodiesel.

The article “Chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass: opportunities, perspectives, and potential of biorefinery systems” acknowledge that efficiency improvements and research efforts are needed (dehydration, fermentation, hydrogenation, etc.), as well as the possibilities when it comes to enhancing biomass conversion performances through the synthesis of new platform chemicals, with higher oxygen content, so as to accommodate the original biomass composition (Cherubini and Strømman).

Project Description

Rationale and Significance

The given research will determine if the research on biofuel is what we are looking for in the next step of Rouge Gauche Corporation. The studies are meant to save us a huge amount of money. The research given on biofuel will also determine if we should implement the idea of creating raceways if given a grant from the Department of Energy.

Quality Assurance

To insure quality and assurance, all data will be gathered from dependable sources as well as credited sources. Recommendations will also be gained by the attorneys in Rouge Gauche.

Conclusion

A feasibility study is needed to collect more information about the effectiveness of Rouge Gauche Corporation biofuel research ensures that improvement of our program agrees with our mission and goals in the future. Preliminary finding have concluded that biofuel will become a new source of energy, help the environment instead of destroying it, and innovate new things to Rouge Gauche Corporation.

In depth the study can be conducted within two months depending on the work ethic. This study will not interfere with my job as a civil engineer for Rouge Gauche Corporation. The study can produce ideas on how biofuels can benefit Rouge Gauche Corporation.

Recommendations

Biofuel is more ecofriendly to the environment than diesel. Our corporation is already portrayed as a cause for global warming because of the work that we do. Microalgae being that it isn’t harmful to the environment could be a great substitute to diesel. Gabriel Acién Fernández mentions that microalgae has been proposed as a carbon dioxide removal option to contribute to climate change avoidance and problems coming from the use of fossil fuels. Microalgae reduces carbon dioxide instead of releasing it, unlike regular gasoline (2012). Not only is biofuel great for the planet but its great the future civilization as well.Our time for using fossil fuels is almost done and finding new ways for energy can set the tone for the future. It is our opportunity to take this idea of research and make it a legacy for Rouge Gauche Corporation.

References

http://www.asce.org/Audience/Authors,--Editors/Books/General-Book-Information/Quick-Guide-to-Common-Types-of-Referenced-Material/

Carroll, J., (2013). “Exxon at least 25 years away from making fuel from algae” < http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-08/exxon-at-least-25-years-away-from-making-fuel-from-algae.html> (Apr. 26, 2014).

Cherubini, F., & Strømman, A. H. (2011). “Chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass: opportunities, perspectives, and potential of biorefinery systems.” Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, 5(5), 548-561.

Chisti, Y. (2007). “Biodiesel from microalgae.” Biotechnology advances, 25(3), 294-306.

Chu, S., & Majumdar, A. (2012). “Opportunities and challenges for a sustainable energy future.” nature, 488(7411), 294-303.

Fernández, F. G. A., González-López, C. V., Sevilla, J. F., & Grima, E. M. (2012). “Conversion of CO2 into biomass by microalgae: how realistic a contribution may it be to significant CO2 removal?.” Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 96(3), 577-586.

Jacquot, J. “5 companies making fuel from algae now.”

Menetrez, M. Y. (2012). “An overview of algae biofuel production and potential environmental impact.” Environmental science & technology, 46(13), 7073-7085.

Moka, S., Pande, M., Rani, M., Gakhar, R., Sharma, M., Rani, J., & Bhaskarwar, A. N. (2014). “Alternative fuels: An overview of current trends and scope for future.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 32, 697-712.

Prakash, G. S., Olah, G., & Goeppert, A. (2011). “Beyond oil and gas: The methanol economy.” ECS Transactions, 35(11), 31-40.

Voith, M. (2009). “Dow plans algae biofuels pilot.” Chem & Eng News, 87(27), 10.