Slashdot Mirror
Cellulosic Biofuel Finally Ready For the Road
wdebruij writes "After years of research, promises, and plenty of discussion here, biofuel from inedible greens such as switchgrass — and even from corn cobs — may finally be getting economically viable. Two enzyme producers, Novozyme and Genencor, have both announced that they can now produce fuel at prices competitive with current corn and petrol-based methods. This is particularly good news in the wake of another report that food-based biofuels could cause hunger."
The amount of algae growth required for powering America's fleet of vehicles would cover every ocean and kill every single fish on the planet.
Land-based farms require pumping water, maintenance, energy, etc. If you build them in the desert, you suffer horrendous water losses. If you build them near the ocean, you encroach on livable and arable land.