The poop on biofuel

When I built a house a few years ago, I subscribed to Small Flows magazine, a publication dedicated to septic systems and waste treatment. I was researching what sort of system to install, and I just never cancelled the subscription after I'd made my choice.

Well, this month's issue features a fascinating article for someone interested in ecology and that sort of thing. Researchers have found that they can use algae to treat wastewater, and a byproduct of the process, which is used primarily to clean the waste, is biofuel! Yes, a combination of sewage and algae---two pretty unappealing things---can result in clean water and fuel for heating, vehicles, etc.  The article states, "In fact, many environmental experts believe that the combination of algae and wastewater may be the key to a low-carbon future--an oil utopia of sorts."

The use of algae to produce fuel was first tested in the fifties, and scientists began using it in 1978, after the oil crisis; but, as oil prices went down in the 90s, so did interest in the process. Now, of course, the idea is becoming appealing again. The cost-effectiveness of combining algae with wastewater easily trumps traditionally-farmed biofuels. With current technology, it's not yet commercially viable, but a pilot project is in the works.

Imagine home treatment systems--instead of just a septic system, you could have a biofuel plant and clean water for your plants! And, I assume, fertilizer would be another byproduct--although the article doesn't address that. On a national scale, imported oil could be replaced by fuel from our own waste. The cool part of this is that it treats waste that we already produce and always will, and which we have to treat anyway, and creates fuel as a byproduct. It also reduces costs by about half for both algae growers (who now grow it to produce biofuel) and wastewater treatment providers over their current systems operating separately.  Countries without vast stores of oil might no longer be at the mercy of those who do have them. Imagine poor third-world countries being able to produce their own fuel, maybe on a local level!

A cost-effective technology is probably several years away, but it looks like this might become a magic bullet for some of our energy ills. I can see the slogans now: From Crappy to Happy! This Is Really Good Sh*t! Wastewater Purity = National Security. Flush with Pride.

Okay, I'll leave the slogans to people who know their sh*t.