Mastering the efficient, low energy removal of algae from limnic and saltwater will open up a vast new industry in algae production, providing benefits across all levels of society.
The Energy Industry
Improving the efficiency of harvesting algae, turning it into a sustainable process, could eliminate the single largest barrier to its widespread production as a biofuel.
Improving the efficiency of harvesting algae, turning it into a sustainable process, could eliminate the single largest barrier to its widespread production as a biofuel.
Water Supply sector
Using algae to treat waste water is an appealing, low energy alternative to the current methods used. Algae requires many of the nutrients already present in wastewater such as nitrates and phosphorous. WWTPs may soon take on the role of resource recovery systems instead of nutrient removal ones, using sustainably harvested organic biomass like algae to then provide energy to run the plant.
Using algae to treat waste water is an appealing, low energy alternative to the current methods used. Algae requires many of the nutrients already present in wastewater such as nitrates and phosphorous. WWTPs may soon take on the role of resource recovery systems instead of nutrient removal ones, using sustainably harvested organic biomass like algae to then provide energy to run the plant.
The Environment
The problems caused by eutrophic water systems in the natural environment are far reaching and damaging. A simple, low energy mechanism for harvesting large quantities of algae from places that it is a problem would provide a strong economic incentive to clear up nuisance algae for bioenergy.
When a solution is found, algae will cease to be seen as a nuisance, becoming instead a valuable commodity whose cultivation and extraction could become a lucrative investment for land owners, local authorities, energy companies and water management companies. Environmental problems caused by eutrophication may be reversed, and crucially, the world's dependency on fossil fuels could be significantly reduced; in a wider sense allowing countries to become more self-sufficient and alleviating tensions regarding energy security.
The problems caused by eutrophic water systems in the natural environment are far reaching and damaging. A simple, low energy mechanism for harvesting large quantities of algae from places that it is a problem would provide a strong economic incentive to clear up nuisance algae for bioenergy.
When a solution is found, algae will cease to be seen as a nuisance, becoming instead a valuable commodity whose cultivation and extraction could become a lucrative investment for land owners, local authorities, energy companies and water management companies. Environmental problems caused by eutrophication may be reversed, and crucially, the world's dependency on fossil fuels could be significantly reduced; in a wider sense allowing countries to become more self-sufficient and alleviating tensions regarding energy security.
