Biomass
Biomass covers a wide range of fuels, including algae, wood municipal solid waste, tires, sewerage sludge and industrial waste. These fuels can be converted to electricity, gas, diesel or refined propellants like jet fuel.
Biomass facilities can produce as long as the fuel is readily and economically available, and typical facilities can be operational for up to 30 years.
Global Energy is working with many of these feed stocks, such as algae. Algae grow rapidly and can have a high percentage of oils. Researchers have learned that algae can double their mass several times a day and produce at least fifteen times more oil per acre than alternatives like soybeans or jatropha.
Algae-growing facilities can be built on coastal land that may not be suitable for agriculture. Since the whole organism converts sunlight into oil, algae can produce more oil in an area the size of a two-car garage than a large field of soybeans. In addition, algal fuels do not impact fresh water resources and can use ocean and wastewater.
