http://www.openwetware.org/index.php?title=Biological_Energy_FAQ&action=history Revision history for this page on the wiki en MediaWiki 1.13.2 Thu, 23 May 2013 20:51:45 GMT http://www.openwetware.org/index.php?title=Biological_Energy_FAQ&diff=11825&oldid=prev <p></p> <table style="background-color: white; color:black;"> <col class='diff-marker' /> <col class='diff-content' /> <col class='diff-marker' /> <col class='diff-content' /> <tr valign='top'> <td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">←Older revision</td> <td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">Revision as of 21:39, 23 June 2005</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 32:</td> <td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 32:</td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Business''' - What biological energy based products are closest to competing, economically, with their non-biological counterparts? What kinds of products could be created to satisfy existing needs for energy production or reduction in carbon emissions?</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Business''' - What biological energy based products are closest to competing, economically, with their non-biological counterparts? What kinds of products could be created to satisfy existing needs for energy production or reduction in carbon emissions?</div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Government policy''' - How and where do we find the funding for the development of these technologies? what kind of regulation will encourage the development of biological energy? See [[Business and Policy Participation in Biological Energy]].</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Government policy''' - How and where do we find the funding for the development of these technologies? what kind of regulation will encourage the development of biological energy? See [[Business and Policy Participation in Biological Energy]].</div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"></ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">==How can I help?==</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"></ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Contact [[Peter Weigele]] to sign up, or just come to one of our meetings, Monday at 3:00 in 68-374.</ins></div></td></tr> <!-- diff generator: internal 2013-05-23 20:51:45 --> </table> Thu, 23 Jun 2005 21:39:43 GMT Jason R. Kelly http://www.openwetware.org/wiki/Talk:Biological_Energy_FAQ http://www.openwetware.org/index.php?title=Biological_Energy_FAQ&diff=2586&oldid=prev <p><span class="autocomment">How can we get energy from microbes?</span></p> <table style="background-color: white; color:black;"> <col class='diff-marker' /> <col class='diff-content' /> <col class='diff-marker' /> <col class='diff-content' /> <tr valign='top'> <td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">←Older revision</td> <td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">Revision as of 19:40, 23 June 2005</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 24:</td> <td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 24:</td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>Here is a picture to illustrate just one possible scenario. Engineered microbes such as cyanobacteria or unicellular eukaryotic green-algae are grown in a photobioreactor consisting of closed, parallel transparent tubes. The medium in which they live is kept in circulation and hydrogen gas is harvested from the ends of the tubes. The hydrogen can be used on site, stored, or transported for use elsewhere.</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>Here is a picture to illustrate just one possible scenario. Engineered microbes such as cyanobacteria or unicellular eukaryotic green-algae are grown in a photobioreactor consisting of closed, parallel transparent tubes. The medium in which they live is kept in circulation and hydrogen gas is harvested from the ends of the tubes. The hydrogen can be used on site, stored, or transported for use elsewhere.</div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'>-</td><td style="background: #ffa; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><del class="diffchange diffchange-inline">&lt;insert figure here, need to upload still&gt;</del></div></td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins class="diffchange diffchange-inline">[[Image:Bioreactor-schematic.jpg]]</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>This setup requires contributions from several disciplines and the answers to many questions:</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>This setup requires contributions from several disciplines and the answers to many questions:</div></td></tr> <!-- diff generator: internal 2013-05-23 20:51:45 --> </table> Thu, 23 Jun 2005 19:40:15 GMT Jason R. Kelly http://www.openwetware.org/wiki/Talk:Biological_Energy_FAQ http://www.openwetware.org/index.php?title=Biological_Energy_FAQ&diff=2556&oldid=prev <p><span class="autocomment">How can we get energy from microbes?</span></p> <table style="background-color: white; color:black;"> <col class='diff-marker' /> <col class='diff-content' /> <col class='diff-marker' /> <col class='diff-content' /> <tr valign='top'> <td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">←Older revision</td> <td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">Revision as of 18:07, 23 June 2005</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 31:</td> <td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 31:</td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Process engineering''' - How do we design photobioreactors to best capture sunlight and emitted gases? How do we achieve mixing without using too much energy? See [[Engineering and Materials Science in Biological Energy]]</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Process engineering''' - How do we design photobioreactors to best capture sunlight and emitted gases? How do we achieve mixing without using too much energy? See [[Engineering and Materials Science in Biological Energy]]</div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Business''' - What biological energy based products are closest to competing, economically, with their non-biological counterparts? What kinds of products could be created to satisfy existing needs for energy production or reduction in carbon emissions?</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Business''' - What biological energy based products are closest to competing, economically, with their non-biological counterparts? What kinds of products could be created to satisfy existing needs for energy production or reduction in carbon emissions?</div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'>-</td><td style="background: #ffa; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Government policy''' - How and where do we find the funding for the development of these technologies? what kind of regulation will encourage the development of biological energy?</div></td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Government policy''' - How and where do we find the funding for the development of these technologies? what kind of regulation will encourage the development of biological energy? <ins class="diffchange diffchange-inline">See [[Business and Policy Participation in Biological Energy]].</ins></div></td></tr> <!-- diff generator: internal 2013-05-23 20:51:45 --> </table> Thu, 23 Jun 2005 18:07:09 GMT Jason R. Kelly http://www.openwetware.org/wiki/Talk:Biological_Energy_FAQ http://www.openwetware.org/index.php?title=Biological_Energy_FAQ&diff=2526&oldid=prev <p><span class="autocomment">How can we get energy from microbes?</span></p> <table style="background-color: white; color:black;"> <col class='diff-marker' /> <col class='diff-content' /> <col class='diff-marker' /> <col class='diff-content' /> <tr valign='top'> <td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">←Older revision</td> <td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">Revision as of 18:04, 23 June 2005</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 29:</td> <td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 29:</td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Biology''' - What kinds of organisms do we use? How do we modify them to increase production of hydrogen or other products? Please see our document on the [[Biology of Hydrogen Production]].</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Biology''' - What kinds of organisms do we use? How do we modify them to increase production of hydrogen or other products? Please see our document on the [[Biology of Hydrogen Production]].</div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'>-</td><td style="background: #ffa; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Process engineering''' - How do we design photobioreactors to best capture sunlight and emitted gases? How do we achieve mixing without using too much energy?</div></td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Process engineering''' - How do we design photobioreactors to best capture sunlight and emitted gases? How do we achieve mixing without using too much energy? <ins class="diffchange diffchange-inline">See [[Engineering and Materials Science in Biological Energy]]</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Business''' - What biological energy based products are closest to competing, economically, with their non-biological counterparts? What kinds of products could be created to satisfy existing needs for energy production or reduction in carbon emissions?</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Business''' - What biological energy based products are closest to competing, economically, with their non-biological counterparts? What kinds of products could be created to satisfy existing needs for energy production or reduction in carbon emissions?</div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Government policy''' - How and where do we find the funding for the development of these technologies? what kind of regulation will encourage the development of biological energy?</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Government policy''' - How and where do we find the funding for the development of these technologies? what kind of regulation will encourage the development of biological energy?</div></td></tr> <!-- diff generator: internal 2013-05-23 20:51:45 --> </table> Thu, 23 Jun 2005 18:04:44 GMT Jason R. Kelly http://www.openwetware.org/wiki/Talk:Biological_Energy_FAQ http://www.openwetware.org/index.php?title=Biological_Energy_FAQ&diff=2525&oldid=prev <p><span class="autocomment">How can we get energy from microbes?</span></p> <table style="background-color: white; color:black;"> <col class='diff-marker' /> <col class='diff-content' /> <col class='diff-marker' /> <col class='diff-content' /> <tr valign='top'> <td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">←Older revision</td> <td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">Revision as of 18:03, 23 June 2005</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 28:</td> <td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 28:</td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>This setup requires contributions from several disciplines and the answers to many questions:</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>This setup requires contributions from several disciplines and the answers to many questions:</div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'>-</td><td style="background: #ffa; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Biology''' - What kinds of organisms do we use? How do we modify them to increase production of hydrogen or other products? Please see our document on the [[Biology of <del class="diffchange diffchange-inline">hydrogen production</del>]].</div></td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Biology''' - What kinds of organisms do we use? How do we modify them to increase production of hydrogen or other products? Please see our document on the [[Biology of <ins class="diffchange diffchange-inline">Hydrogen Production</ins>]].</div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Process engineering''' - How do we design photobioreactors to best capture sunlight and emitted gases? How do we achieve mixing without using too much energy?</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Process engineering''' - How do we design photobioreactors to best capture sunlight and emitted gases? How do we achieve mixing without using too much energy?</div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Business''' - What biological energy based products are closest to competing, economically, with their non-biological counterparts? What kinds of products could be created to satisfy existing needs for energy production or reduction in carbon emissions?</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Business''' - What biological energy based products are closest to competing, economically, with their non-biological counterparts? What kinds of products could be created to satisfy existing needs for energy production or reduction in carbon emissions?</div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Government policy''' - How and where do we find the funding for the development of these technologies? what kind of regulation will encourage the development of biological energy?</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Government policy''' - How and where do we find the funding for the development of these technologies? what kind of regulation will encourage the development of biological energy?</div></td></tr> <!-- diff generator: internal 2013-05-23 20:51:45 --> </table> Thu, 23 Jun 2005 18:03:22 GMT Jason R. Kelly http://www.openwetware.org/wiki/Talk:Biological_Energy_FAQ http://www.openwetware.org/index.php?title=Biological_Energy_FAQ&diff=2524&oldid=prev <p><span class="autocomment">How can we get energy from microbes?</span></p> <table style="background-color: white; color:black;"> <col class='diff-marker' /> <col class='diff-content' /> <col class='diff-marker' /> <col class='diff-content' /> <tr valign='top'> <td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">←Older revision</td> <td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">Revision as of 18:01, 23 June 2005</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 28:</td> <td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 28:</td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>This setup requires contributions from several disciplines and the answers to many questions:</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>This setup requires contributions from several disciplines and the answers to many questions:</div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'>-</td><td style="background: #ffa; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Biology''' - What kinds of organisms do we use? How do we modify them to increase production of hydrogen or other products?</div></td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Biology''' - What kinds of organisms do we use? How do we modify them to increase production of hydrogen or other products? <ins class="diffchange diffchange-inline">Please see our document on the [[Biology of hydrogen production]].</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Process engineering''' - How do we design photobioreactors to best capture sunlight and emitted gases? How do we achieve mixing without using too much energy?</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Process engineering''' - How do we design photobioreactors to best capture sunlight and emitted gases? How do we achieve mixing without using too much energy?</div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Business''' - What biological energy based products are closest to competing, economically, with their non-biological counterparts? What kinds of products could be created to satisfy existing needs for energy production or reduction in carbon emissions?</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Business''' - What biological energy based products are closest to competing, economically, with their non-biological counterparts? What kinds of products could be created to satisfy existing needs for energy production or reduction in carbon emissions?</div></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Government policy''' - How and where do we find the funding for the development of these technologies? what kind of regulation will encourage the development of biological energy?</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>*'''Government policy''' - How and where do we find the funding for the development of these technologies? what kind of regulation will encourage the development of biological energy?</div></td></tr> <!-- diff generator: internal 2013-05-23 20:51:45 --> </table> Thu, 23 Jun 2005 18:01:22 GMT Jason R. Kelly http://www.openwetware.org/wiki/Talk:Biological_Energy_FAQ http://www.openwetware.org/index.php?title=Biological_Energy_FAQ&diff=2523&oldid=prev <p></p> <table style="background-color: white; color:black;"> <col class='diff-marker' /> <col class='diff-content' /> <col class='diff-marker' /> <col class='diff-content' /> <tr valign='top'> <td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">←Older revision</td> <td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">Revision as of 17:56, 23 June 2005</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 19:</td> <td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 19:</td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"></td></tr> <tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>Or, the bottom line: $$$ and the opportunity to participate in the coming hydrogen economy. Perhaps we will soon be seeing the start of a &quot;garage-biotech&quot; revolution. Think about it - you don't need FDA approval to make gas from bugs.</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background: #eee; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div>Or, the bottom line: $$$ and the opportunity to participate in the coming hydrogen economy. Perhaps we will soon be seeing the start of a &quot;garage-biotech&quot; revolution. Think about it - you don't need FDA approval to make gas from bugs.</div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"></ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">==How can we get energy from microbes?==</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"></ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Here is a picture to illustrate just one possible scenario. Engineered microbes such as cyanobacteria or unicellular eukaryotic green-algae are grown in a photobioreactor consisting of closed, parallel transparent tubes. The medium in which they live is kept in circulation and hydrogen gas is harvested from the ends of the tubes. The hydrogen can be used on site, stored, or transported for use elsewhere.</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"></ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">&lt;insert figure here, need to upload still&gt;</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"></ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">This setup requires contributions from several disciplines and the answers to many questions:</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"></ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">*'''Biology''' - What kinds of organisms do we use? How do we modify them to increase production of hydrogen or other products?</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">*'''Process engineering''' - How do we design photobioreactors to best capture sunlight and emitted gases? How do we achieve mixing without using too much energy?</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">*'''Business''' - What biological energy based products are closest to competing, economically, with their non-biological counterparts? What kinds of products could be created to satisfy existing needs for energy production or reduction in carbon emissions?</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="background: #cfc; color:black; font-size: smaller;"><div><ins style="color: red; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">*'''Government policy''' - How and where do we find the funding for the development of these technologies? what kind of regulation will encourage the development of biological energy?</ins></div></td></tr> <!-- diff generator: internal 2013-05-23 20:51:45 --> </table> Thu, 23 Jun 2005 17:56:58 GMT Jason R. Kelly http://www.openwetware.org/wiki/Talk:Biological_Energy_FAQ http://www.openwetware.org/index.php?title=Biological_Energy_FAQ&diff=2521&oldid=prev <p></p> <p><b>New page</b></p><div>==What is Biological Energy?==<br /> Strictly speaking, &quot;biological energy&quot; ought to refer to the chemical potentials produced and consumed by the myriad and interwoven reactions that take place within the compartments of living matter as it... well, lives! But these processes are perhaps better known, collectively, as metabolism.<br /> <br /> We use the phrase &quot;biological energy&quot; as a convention to refer to a specific social and technological endeavor: to use the metabolic capacities of organisms to convert some combination of light, biomass, organic compounds, gases and water into useful chemical-bond energy; i.e. storable, transportable, energy yielding molecules as well as industrially useful materials. Examples include hydrogen, methane, alcohols, ammonia and bioplastics.<br /> <br /> The purpose of designing and developing biological energy systems is to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and provide environmentally friendly alternatives to some industrial processes. Biological energy is sustainable technology.<br /> <br /> The development and implementation of these processes to the point of economically competitive technologies will require the coordinated efforts of science, engineering, business and government policy. <br /> <br /> ==Why Biological Energy?==<br /> Climatological and oceanographic data point to the global impact anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions have on geochemical, atmospheric and ecological systems. Even a conservative interpretation of the data suggest dire consequences if current rates of CO2 emissions continue.<br /> <br /> Here are some other reasons:<br /> <br /> *economic - oil will eventually run out<br /> *political - the US relies on foreign governments for oil<br /> *national security - famine induced instability in countries with nukes?<br /> *moral - people will starve/die as a result of the effects of global warming<br /> <br /> Or, the bottom line: $$$ and the opportunity to participate in the coming hydrogen economy. Perhaps we will soon be seeing the start of a &quot;garage-biotech&quot; revolution. Think about it - you don't need FDA approval to make gas from bugs.</div> Thu, 23 Jun 2005 17:54:21 GMT Jason R. Kelly http://www.openwetware.org/wiki/Talk:Biological_Energy_FAQ