As the presidential election draws near, gasoline prices are again in the news. In the summer they were rising, and Obama’s opponents were pointing fingers in his directions. Now that prices are falling, what does that mean for the Obama and Romney campaigns? In this week’s episode of R-Squared Energy TV, I answer a reader’s question on how falling gasoline prices might impact the Obama campaign for reelection.
Readers who have specific questions can send them to ask [at] consumerenergyreport [dot] com or leave the question after this post (at the original source). Consider subscribing to our YouTube channel where you’ll be able to view past and future videos.
Though your link to an algae video might be a bit “off topic” it remains at the core of the issue. Fuel prices and how are we going to continue to enjoy liquid fuels when fossil oil is depleted (which I aver will happen sooner than most people believe). Though the video was aimed at the scientifically challenged it points out that algae, which produced all of the fossil oil, will in the future be our main source of “new oil”. It won’t actually take as much space as claimed in the video. Ponds will not be the main growing venue. Greenhouses (photobioreactors) will. Most everything else is relatively true. Algae can be grown in almost any type of water, produces an oil that can be converted to any product that fossil oil is refined into and is , most importantly, sustainable. Robert, for whom I have the greatest respect, hasn’t come on board yet noting that no commercial amounts of algal oil have been produced to date. That is soon to change.
An interesting video on algae by Dr Russell Chapman:
That appears to be simply pyrolysis. Indeed, pyrolysis takes place very quickly and breaks down biomass to a bio-oil. The question is “What is the quality of the oil?” Raw pyrolysis oil is pretty nasty stuff.
What was interesting to me was the comment that with Pressure and Heat a large about of the Algae could be turned to BioOil quickly . (although as you point out still needs major refining). I have no informed opinion on anything else in the article. I suspect a lot of things would have to happen/be solved for the costs to work out.
It would be cool if some way we figured out a way to use the earth’s heat and pressure to naturally make oil by salting it with algae solution and farming out the oil. it’s nothing I would invest in but it would be cool…..
Jim, I just found this link, which confirms what I thought. They are saying “crude oil” which may lead people to believe that it is actually like crude oil. But then they confirm in the link that the compounds are oxygenated, which means it is more likely just pyrolysis oil. In that case, this isn’t really a breakthrough, they just used pyrolysis on algae instead of wood which is the normal feedstock.
Off topic but of interest
http://newenergyandfuel.com/http:/newenergyandfuel/com/2012/11/01/breakthrough-algae-to-oil-in-a-minute/
Jim,
Though your link to an algae video might be a bit “off topic” it remains at the core of the issue. Fuel prices and how are we going to continue to enjoy liquid fuels when fossil oil is depleted (which I aver will happen sooner than most people believe). Though the video was aimed at the scientifically challenged it points out that algae, which produced all of the fossil oil, will in the future be our main source of “new oil”. It won’t actually take as much space as claimed in the video. Ponds will not be the main growing venue. Greenhouses (photobioreactors) will. Most everything else is relatively true. Algae can be grown in almost any type of water, produces an oil that can be converted to any product that fossil oil is refined into and is , most importantly, sustainable. Robert, for whom I have the greatest respect, hasn’t come on board yet noting that no commercial amounts of algal oil have been produced to date. That is soon to change.
An interesting video on algae by Dr Russell Chapman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB2XlpD-Ld4
Thanks for posting
Ed
That appears to be simply pyrolysis. Indeed, pyrolysis takes place very quickly and breaks down biomass to a bio-oil. The question is “What is the quality of the oil?” Raw pyrolysis oil is pretty nasty stuff.
RR
Robert,
What was interesting to me was the comment that with Pressure and Heat a large about of the Algae could be turned to BioOil quickly . (although as you point out still needs major refining). I have no informed opinion on anything else in the article. I suspect a lot of things would have to happen/be solved for the costs to work out.
It would be cool if some way we figured out a way to use the earth’s heat and pressure to naturally make oil by salting it with algae solution and farming out the oil. it’s nothing I would invest in but it would be cool…..
Jim, I just found this link, which confirms what I thought. They are saying “crude oil” which may lead people to believe that it is actually like crude oil. But then they confirm in the link that the compounds are oxygenated, which means it is more likely just pyrolysis oil. In that case, this isn’t really a breakthrough, they just used pyrolysis on algae instead of wood which is the normal feedstock.
RR