[hutzlibu]

"blue-green algae might not be very scalable..."

Actually, the idea is, that they are very scalable, because to make more solar panels you have to manufacture more panels.

To make more algae(and get more power), you just let it grow.

So you still have to build more sun exposed tanks but this is very low tech, compared to cleanroom solar panel manufacturing. What is missing is probably a breakthrough in genetic modified improved efficeny, which is currently indeed very low (way lower than solar panels per area)

[ars]

The energy embodied in the metal used to make their housing is more than the entire possible energy they could make in any reasonable timeframe.

So no, this isn't scalable.

On top of that despite them saying the anode was not corrected, it's almost certain the algae aren't making any electricity at all, it's all coming from the cathode and anode oxidizing.

It's easy enough to tell - just let them die and let's see if there is a different in energy output. I can almost guarantee there will not be any difference.

[LoveMortuus]

To be fair, I was unable to find the original document, so we don't actually know how many watts the algae generator can provide, we only know how much the computer that they used consumed, also they did note that after 6 months the algae was dead.

That being said, I'm sceptical about the scalability of the algae generator because it's efficiency would have to increase by about 1000x (if we assume that right now it can generate what the computer used while calculating).

Today an average AA battery has t the capacity of 3Wh some even 4Wh. And at 3Wh you could, theoretically, charge your phone at 5V 1A for like half an hour or there about.

Our in other words, what I'm talking about when I question the scalability is energy density. That's the reason why you can do more then 700km with a car that runs on fossil fuels and maybe 350km if it's not too hot and not to cool with an electric car.

Could we engineer there algae to be 1000x times more efficient or even just 500x more efficient, since as long as the algae is alive you don't really need to charge anything. You do need the sun though, these are, from what I understand photosynthetic algae.

[ineedasername]

That's only scalable if the material & labor costs to build and maintain the tanks is within a certain margin.

How many m^2 of algae is required to equal a m^2 of solar? From there you could calculate relative costs, given reasonable assumptions of lowered tank/algae costs as the tech matured.

[hutzlibu]

"How many m^2 of algae is required to equal a m^2 of solar?"

Some years ago, the efficency was at around 1 % vs. 20% with solar panels, meaning you would need 20× the space, meaning only dessert areas and big scale production worth it. And since no one did it big scale yet, means it is economically not worth it yet.

But the cost of further algae itself are zero, which makes the idea attractive in theory. Like I said, there is a breakthrough required in efficency, or some cheap big scale production/deployment system.

[marcosdumay]

Hum... A large share of the solar costs are on support and installation. Those are proportional to the area, and are even higher (by area) for algae, because algae requires some water, and water is heavy.

So, if they need 20x the area, just their support and installation will already cost some 5x more than a full solar plant.

[LoveMortuus]

Also these algae need an open system so that they don't kul themselves. And I think they might be much more sensitive to heat and especially cold then solar panels.

Algae are living creatures just like humans and stuff, so keeping them alive is probably harder then with solar which is basically just nicely arranged rocks and crystals.

[wedn3sday]

Seems like floating applications might works as well, a large raft of connected plastic bladders on a reservoir might work. Reduce water loss due to evaporation by decreasing light hitting the reservoir at the same time as generating power.

[ineedasername]

Or it might just need an applications where panels aren't viable but algae is. Not sure what that would be, but I also don't consider myself a visionary. Maybe a high dust area where maintenance isn't practical for panels?

[2OEH8eoCRo0]

I had a dream that some super-algae leaked out of a lab and colonized the oceans killing nearly all marine life.

[etiam]

Are you sure your memory isn't just a bit hazy from last time that happened? I think there are credible reasons to believe the lab leak never happened, but anyone could be forgiven for losing some details in two and a half billion years.

[hutzlibu]

The super algea we are looking for here, would likely have no chance in the wild anymore, because to optimize some desired traits (thriving in a protected, stable environment) usually means giving up on other traits, which will force them down when they have competition. (same argument applies to GMO plants)