Midwest states are not generally considered favorable for algae production due to their cold winters. “One of the questions we tried to answer in this study is whether the benefit of abundant, high-purity CO 2 and freshwater in the Midwest would offset the less favorable growth conditions in the region.” Benefits of Midwest production “Warmer regions like the southern states are usually considered better for growing algae, but many locations have limited access to the water and carbon dioxide needed for algae cultivation,” Hawkins said. They also found that cultivating algae in this manner can in turn reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol production by eliminating the need for ethanol producers to capture the carbon made along the way. Hawkins and his team’s findings reveal that Midwest conditions can support algae growth and that year-round fuel production can be maintained by using other materials, such as wood residue, to generate fuel in the seasons when algae doesn’t grow well. It is a region to consider moving forward for those seeking to commercialize algal carbon capture and utilization technologies,” Argonne senior scientist Troy Hawkins, a study co-author. “This work ultimately shows the potential for growing algae in the Midwest while mitigating emissions from ethanol production. ![]() Department of Energy’s ( DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory ( PNNL) recently published a study detailing the challenges and opportunities associated with leveraging this CO 2 to grow algae in the Midwest. However, the Midwest - which is abundant in high purity CO 2 thanks to corn ethanol production - is an area where algae generation has the potential to bloom.įermenting corn yields concentrated CO 2 along with ethanol. regions, making it hard to sustain production. As a whole, algae have the potential to produce 10 to 100 times more fuel per acre of land compared to other crops, but requires lots of water and carbon dioxide ( CO 2) to grow. ![]() ![]() Seaweed, pond scum and giant kelp are some well-known examples. But algae is in fact another viable alternative - if it can be mass produced.Īlgae are a group of aquatic organisms capable of photosynthesis. When you hear the word biofuel, corn is likely the first thing that comes to mind.
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