Can Algae Replace Petroleum as a Clean, Low Carbon, Homegrown Fuel for our Military and More?

Speaker(s): 
Jonathan Trent, Ph.D., National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Chris Tindal , Navy
Roy Minson, SAIC
William Harrison, Air Force
Event Date: 
Monday, November 16, 2009 - 5:30pm - 8:15pm
Event Location: 

L’Enfant Plaza Hotel
480 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC

Conversation References
Presentation: Can Algae Replace Petroleum as a Clean, Low Carbon, Homegrown Fuel for our Military and More? - Roy Minson
Presentation: Can Algae Replace Petroleum as a Clean, Low Carbon, Homegrown Fuel for our Military and More? - William Harrison
Presentation: Can Algae Replace Petroleum as a Clean, Low Carbon, Homegrown Fuel for our Military and More? - Chris Tindal
Presentation: Can Algae Replace Petroleum as a Clean, Low Carbon, Homegrown Fuel for our Military and More? - Jonathan Trent, Ph.D.
Bullet Points: Can Algae Replace Petroleum as a Clean, Low Carbon, Homegrown Fuel for our Military and More?
Transcript: Can Algae Replace Petroleum as a Clean, Low Carbon, Homegrown Fuel for our Military and More?

.mp3 Available Here!

Is Algae the home grown clean substitute for petroleum? How far can Algae take the MILITARY SERVICES and more? What is OMEGA?

With both the Navy and Air Force addressing the increased broad parameters of algae fuel solutions for drop ins, ground vehicles, diesel, and J8, can algae meet the goals set forth? And if so, does it have the potential to be even more ambitious?

Energy returned on energy invested and water usage and impacts are the two largest factors affecting costs and environmental impacts of algae-derived biofuel. Other factors include toxic chemical inputs/outputs and native v. Foreign species incursions including whether the algae is genetically modified. All factors vary widely depending on technologies used.

Which brings us to Omega and a new visionary approach from NASA - an innovative approach to growing oil-producing, freshwater algae in offshore enclosures, using municipal wastewater that is currently dumped into the ocean.

Join us Monday, November 16th, 2009, at 5:30 PM in Washington, DC, at the next Energy Conversation, to hear Chris Tindal (Navy) and William Harrison (Air Force) and Roy Minson (SAIC/DARPA) discuss the broad parameters - of the liquid fuels the Services need, why they need it and how they are seeking to integrate conventional energy sources with new and renewable sources.  

Dr. Jonathan Trent, (NASA Ames Research Center), will present results from laboratory and small-scale field-tests of OMEGA and discuss some of the challenges in biology, engineering, economics, and environmental issues.   His objective is to call to action people who would like to collaborate to address the challenges of the future to help meet our nation’s energy needs to fuel the future.