Fuel Made From Algae Could Help Fukushima—and the Rest of the World

In the on-going search for a non - nuclear energy , Fukushima could line up a partial reply in support , green , microalgae . And alga can aid the relief of the mankind , too .

A Japanese think tank tells theAsahi Shimbunnewspaper that universities and other groups in the country are work on to wad grow an algae native to Fukushima . The coastal prefecture in northern Japan endure atomic meltdown following the massive earthquake in 2011 . Algae sucks in C dioxide to bring out innate oil , making it an attractive biofuel . Tests have plain shown that the Fukushima algae is able to survive cold winter , which gives algae an edge over other alternative biofuels based on corn whisky .

We previously reported aboutthe joy of alga : It take in in carbon emissions , there ’s no import toll , it grows at lightning fast rates , and can develop 60 times more oil per Accho than plants grown on ground .

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The biggest problem , whether we ’re talking Japan , the US , or anywhere else , is that algae is passing expensive . In the case of Fukushima , a liter of alga oil color be up to 300 yen , or around $ 2.50 . That number needs to be chop down to 100 yen ( around 83 cents ) for this venture to be viable from a money standpoint , Asahi Shimbun says .

Algae is n’t the only alternate energy Fukushima ’s been seeking out in recent year . Wind power is another one : Back in June , theworld ’s largest floating wind turbinewas make out in Fukushima , part of a larger programme to beef up wind power there .

Of course , atomic energy still outperform wind and algae in terms of megawatts of electrical energy produced . But they ’re alternatives attractive to the planet ’s most quake - prone nation . Still , last month , Japanstarted reactivatingits atomic flora .

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