Too Cool not to share... algae as a fuel source??

alabella1 · May 2, 2024

THE ECO-FRIENDLY FUEL OF THE FUTURE

A carbon-neutral crop that can contribute to the mitigation of climate change, algae are also a viable source of biofuel. Working with Hiroshima University, Mazda is making significant inroads into its future use.

https://mazdastories.com/en_us/inno...ag=CR-CRM2020940&custtag=CR&CRMCID=0032016856

Dburr1014 · May 2, 2024

alabella1 said:
THE ECO-FRIENDLY FUEL OF THE FUTURE
A carbon-neutral crop that can contribute to the mitigation of climate change, algae are also a viable source of biofuel. Working with Hiroshima University, Mazda is making significant inroads into its future use.

https://mazdastories.com/en_us/inno...ag=CR-CRM2020940&custtag=CR&CRMCID=0032016856

We have been using algae for feul for a 100+ years.
Gasoline/diesel/oil is NOT from dinosaurs.

Paul B · May 2, 2024

Dburr1014 said:
Gasoline is NOT from dinosaurs.

OMG, I always thought it was made from Dinosaur snot.

Malum Argenteum · May 2, 2024

Unfortunately, that's an automaker's greenwashing ad. Its purpose is so that people don't feel so bad about driving cars (specifically ICE and PHEV cars, which Mazda is still making). Because EVs aren't taking off as well as hoped, and still have plenty of environmental impact, and since Madza's only EV ended production in 2023, they need to put a fresh face on ICE/PHEV.

"Seaweeds and other algae can be grown without the need for pesticides and fertilizers, and do not cause any major physical change to the environment."

Right below that is an aerial shot of a land-based seaweed farm. I'm trying to believe that no major physical change was made to the few hundred (thousand? hard to tell since the shot doesn't show the whole area) acres of marine shoreline shown. Perhaps there are some geologic forces in Japan that created a seaweed farm right there, that the farmers are just gathering product from. Probably no native plants or animals were living there before the farm came about.

There's another photo of a lab-grown phyto culture, though the culture cabinet is made of bamboo and pine sap -- oh I'm wrong, that's stainless and plastic, and electric lighting. No environmental costs here. Apparently they've figured out how to culture phyto without any nutrient inputs ("fertilizer"), too.