A French Biochemist, Pierre Calleja, recently created an algae powered street lamp. The algae feeds off CO2 emissions. Pierre hopes that the CO2 reducing street lamps will become a household commodity, vicariously reducing CO2 emissions on a major scale.
The lamps could be used in houses, parking garages, on the street, or especially in dense city environments where they could make the most significant impact in reducing society’s carbon footprint and preserving the environment.
The lamps are simply giant tanks filled with Algae. In the center of the tank is a light that creates a green glowing affect to outside viewers. Not only are the lamps aesthetically pleasing, they can also be self-sustaining since CO2 emissions exist in many environments and especially in heavily populated areas.
Aviation Moving Towards Biofuel Alternatives
In the wake of the legalization of biofuels in aviation, pressure to become environmentally safer, and the increase in oil prices, airlines across the world are developing strategies to create biofuel alternatives.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) became the first airliner to fly there jet (a Boeing 787 Dreamliner) on biofuel across the Pacific Ocean. The Dreamliner is comprised mainly from composite materials. They utilized regular fuel along with biofuels to make the trip from Everett, Washington to Haneda Airport in Tokyo. The fuels were created primarily from cooking oil. Boeing’s claim of emitting thirty percent less carbon dioxide would indicate they are leaving a cleaner carbon footprint through utilizing biofuel technology.
A Dutch Airline KLM created a half and half mix of jet fuel and biofuels to make a trip from Amsterdam to Paris. A Boeing 737-800 flew safely with 170 passengers on board. Last November the U.S. based carrier Continental became the first airline to use one hundred percent algae derived jet fuel, of which was mixed with conventional jet fuel as well.
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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is planning to increase the role of biofuels in aviation through implementing strategic plans they predict will achieve a fifty percent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050.
China’s Biofuel Industry Set to Grow Even Further in the Future
Up to this point China has struggled with meeting demands for biofuels within their country and plan on remedying the situation in the future. According to the National Energy Bureau, the Chinese government plans to use five million tons of ethanol fuel between 2011 and 2015.
The push to move towards biofuels and away from petroleum based fuel is part of the Chinese Government’s plan to promote economic growth within their Country. The development of biofuels will vicariously create jobs for farmers and increase production in other industries as well.
Reference:
- http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/04/algae-powered-street-lamps-suck-up-c02/
- http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/04/china-seeks-to-promote-development-of-biofuels-industry-despite-production-difficulties?cmpid=rss
- http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/04/biofuel-powers-boeing-787-across-the-pacific/
Article source: http://cleantechauthority.com/biofuels-lighting-paths-powering-planes-and-changing-china/
