• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Scientists turn algea into biofuel in minutes

If it was workable, Exxon-Mobil would be doing it themselves.

I just wonder how much tax payer money was wasted on this.

I posted a link on previous page that stated that Exxon has already put a 100 million into research. They want to be able to have a product that can be processed in existing refineries to make it economically viable. The president of Exxon on the Charlie Rose show earlier this year stated these biofuels will probably not be ready for 25 years.

Here is the link again.

Exxon Refocusing Algae Biofuels Program After $100 Million Spend - Bloomberg
 
Nah, they'll probably just invest in it and look for a way to make money. Honestly, these companies don't care where there money comes from. Oil is oil after all. Just hope this doesn't end up causing the same mess that the biofuel from grain

It looks really promising. For one thing it isn't going to take up acres of ground that could be producing food in order to produce fuel. And if they can process it through existing refineries just to make jet fuel omg how great would that be!
 
I'm generally pretty skeptical of biofuels and petroleum conversion technologies. The former for reasons others have elaborated on already (lack of real economy and the impact it has on the agricultural market) and the latter because there are enormous hurdles when it comes to translating these laboratory breakthroughs into mass production. They are years if not decades away from viability and there are other options that are in my opinion much more promising and already further along. I think no matter what we're looking at a conventional natural gas, coal, and petroleum future for at least the next twenty to thirty years and likely more. However in the interlude I think solar will continue to mature, new nuclear techniques will be adopted in developing countries and more plants will be built, and batter technologies will improve dramatically allowing for a shift in emphasis to electrical generation as opposed to transportation fuels (think Tesla but 15 years down the road and imagine what you might see).
 
Back
Top Bottom