Green fuel lurks in pond scum - 27 Oct 2007 - Climate change news - NZ Herald

Green fuel lurks in pond scum - 27 Oct 2007 - Climate change news - NZ Herald: "

A plant scientist from West Texas believes one of the oldest, simplest life forms could help to ease some of today's toughest energy and environment problems.

Algae converts carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas blamed for global warming, into a vegetable oil that Glen Kertz, a plant cell expert who used to work for oil companies, hopes can be economically turned into biodiesel.

Algae doesn't need prime farmland, vast quantities of fertiliser, or large harvest vehicles, unlike corn which is the main United States feedstock for ethanol, the top alternative motor fuel.

The single-celled organisms, which are among the world's fastest growing plants, can prosper in small bags of water under the light of greenhouses.

"The more light I have, the more energy that I can capture and put back into the transportation system," Kertz, CEO of private company Valcent Products, said.