The Guardian article misses informing about just what step(s) in the process they’re breaking through. In my conversation the breakthrough is described as cracking out the oil from the algae. What is still not available is the technology, be it physical, chemical, or thermal and the processing inputs to make it work. But DARPA’s representatives are certain they have the way.
Late 2011 could see the first scaled production. The lead contractors are General Atomics and Science Applications International Corp. The news report is a result of successfully demonstrating a lab process of growing affordable algae triglyceride and its production into jet fuel at price point of $2.00 per gallon. There is a phase 2 in the contract whose target is $1.00 per gallon that’s getting underway.
More: http://bit.ly/a2KaAU
Veronica Cassandra
2 comments:
If the DARPA contractors have the first low cost extraction process and it’s at $1, it will be a significant note in history. Lets hope so. http://bit.ly/cW7CHo
DARPA’s research projects have already extracted oil from algal ponds at a cost of $2 per gallon. It is now on track to begin large-scale refining of that oil into jet fuel, at a cost of less than $3 a gallon. Noteable quote.
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