Bio fuels are considered a viable response to diminishing oil stocks and the high price of gasoline; considered eco friendly and a weapon against climate change. But most conventional biofuels, like those made from fermenting corn require way too much water and agricultural land to truly be considered a viable solution.
Joule Biotechnologies offers an alternative to traditional biofuel production by removing the need for thirsty fuel crops growing in rich agricultural fields. Dr. Noubar Afeyan, founded Joule Biotechnologies where apparently his team is successfully creating highly specialized photosynthetic microorganisms through gene manipulation. In essence, the company has developed a system where genetically engineered photosynthetic organisms convert carbon dioxide and water – with energy from sunlight – into ethanol or diesel fuel. No expansive agricultural land or clean water required. These mysterious microorganisms grow in a photobioreactor and occupy a fraction of the land needed for a biomass-based fuel approach. According to Joule Biotechnologies the organisms continuously secrete the fuel eliminating the need to harvest and process them. Other bio fuel processes use algae which requires growing, harvesting, drying, de-watering, extracting the oil, and transforming the oil into fuel. Joule will not reveal the organism it uses, though some have speculated it to be genetically altered duckweed. CEO, Bill Sims considers it a part of the ‘game-changing’ technology that will revolutionize bio-fuel production.
Dr. Afeyan estimates that his solar fuel will yield 100 times as much fuel per hectare as corn. Joule anticipates a 2012 unveiling of a commercially viable processing plant. Many are still skeptical. Joule will need to prove large scale feasibility with the pilot plant that is evidently operational today, though at the time of this post I could find very little about the pilot plant supposedly in operation in Texas. I did see a hot debate on a post at greentechmedia:
The skeptics are scratching their heads over the numbers. To some the projected production figures are seriously overstated. Others feel Ethanol as a fuel of choice is a huge mistake. And Joule’s resistance to reveal any real data is not helping. As Joule continues its tight-lipped publicity dance many wonder if there is a man behind the curtain. “Where are the independent assessments?” the skeptics muse. To be sure, Scientific American was a bit unimpressed by the scant amount of data Joule was willing to share.
Doesn't Joule have the right to keep this sensitive data to themselves? Isn't it a little premature to be calling them out? These are the guys who start with the big 'What if's' and then work to make it happen. We love the ‘What if’s”. It’s the best part of science. Of course, the real work is in the proof, which is what everyone is looking for from Joule. Presently, we understand that they have had very promising results in the lab. They have also made some big promises about their next steps.
So what will it be Questional members? We want to hear from you. Do you believe Joule Biotechnologies has a shot at transforming the energy industry with their special little mystery bugs or are they just howling at the moon?
