By Michael Hoven
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), an office of the US Department of Defense, will soon be producing jet fuel made from algae at a price comparable to that of petroleum-based fuel, the UK Guardian reported on Saturday. DARPA could be months, not years, from producing an algal biofuel that is price-competitive with fossil fuels. According to Barbara McQuiston, special assistant to energy for DARPA, “Oil from algae is projected at $2 per gallon, headed towards $1 per gallon.”
The UK Gaurdian piece is from 2010. I visited an Algae Biofuels research facility this spring and its nowhere near being cost effective. You have to: (a) Dry the algea. (b) Heat it to an ungodly temperature 600 def F with special catalysts, etc. (c) Separate the good output from the trash.
They are along way away from this being economic.