Scientists have never stopped looking for alternative sources of energy, aside from crude oil and petroleum gas. While many industries are already accustomed to using fossil fuel to power up their operations, some are very much aware that one day, we might need to look for another energy source that is more cost-efficient and replenishable. For now, we know that there is tons of fossil fuel reserves in underground depots, but just to be sure that the next generation will have some of it to use in the future, we must act to conserve it the best way that we can.
Thanks to the advancement in technology, we have come up with biofuel, which is a special kind of fuel derived from biomass. There are many potential biomass that we can use to extract biofuel from, like the remains of dead plants and animals. In farms, the manure of livestock animals is often gathered to create biofuel.
However, the potency of the biofuel, as well as the efficiency of extracting enough amount of biofuel to cater the demand of different industries, depends on the characteristics of the biomass being considered. Not all plant and animal waste can be used to create biofuel, but further research must be conducted to come up with a more creative solution.
Kelp As A Major Biofuel Source: Per Latest Studies, This Is Possible
The hardworking researchers of USC Wrigley Institute For Environmental Studies have come up with an astounding finding in their quest for effective biofuel extract. While many people focus on what’s beneath the land to harvest biofuel, these researchers went under the surface of the ocean to complete the job. There, they found out that kelp can be a potential source of biofuel, and with the right aquaculture technique, they can harvest huge quantities of biofuel.
With this latest development, we can grow more kelp and yield four times more amount of biomass than the usual. The technique here is a special contraption that they call the “kelp elevator,” which speeds up the growth of kelp in a single spot in the open ocean. Who would have thought that this breakthrough would happen in our lifetime, when several decades ago we were struggling to get the best rv tv antenna out there.
This is a win for our environment, as accumulating more biofuel from this process lessens our dependency on the traditional fossil fuel, which has significantly higher amount of carbon, whereas our kelp-based biofuel is more environmental-friendly with its low carbon content.