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algOS - Oil from Algae Open Source
From Oilgae.com – Oil from Algae (So what’s the Oilgae story?)
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Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature’s way again
You are at: Oilgae Home > About Algae > Algae Oil > Biodiesel from Algae Oil > Algae Biodiesel Research > Open Source Movement for Biodiesel from Algae - algOS
Oilgae Highlights
algOS – Oil from Algae Open Source
The Oil from Algae OS is an attempt at an open source model for finding the best methods to produce biodiesel from algae.
How does it work?
World over, a few passionate people are trying to figure out ways to derive oil from various species of algae in order to make biodiesel. While there are other crops as well whose oils can be used to produce biodiesel ( see www.bdpedia.com for more inputs), algae present a very interesting proposition because they have few of the drawbacks other feedstock have ( for instance large-scale deforestation or competition with the feedstock usage in food etc). See the various sections @ Oilgae provides more inputs in this regard.
We feel that this is an apt domain in which an open source collaborative research model could help. The idea is to aggregate research inputs from a variety of experts all over the world in order to arrive at a full-cycle design for biodiesel production from algae. All assets that will be created will be governed by laws similar to those of GNU GPL, or possibly the same rules. Simply put, a framework such as GNU GPL provides the freedom to a multitude of researches to use and modify designs/ideas made by other researchers. Such a framework facilitates research and collaboration.
Consider the field of energy, especially energy from oil. From the time oil was discovered until today, a few companies in the world have been able to control the production and distribution of this resource. Why did this happen? For a range of reasons, some of which were perhaps not in any individual’s control.
Now consider the emerging alternative sources of energy. Some of these sources (especially biofuels) can put the control back in the farmers’ and individuals’ hands simply because the feedstock is being produced by them. However, production of oilseeds is only a part of the story – there still remain oil extraction, refining, conversion to Biodiesel / ethanol and transportation. All these require optimal technology and processes to be devised.
The Big Oil companies have started setting their eyes on biofuels as well and have begun work on all aspects of biofuels – from planning captive farms to building biofuel refineries. But should they be allowed to control our key energy assets in future too?
Perhaps not.
We feel that rather than having proprietary companies develop sub-optimal designs of their own and then have a monopoly on oil / biofuel production, an open source design platform will ensure (a) that the design is more robust because many more experts are involved in it, and (b) its open nature will imply that many, many people small and large all over the world can use this technology to provide benefits to one of the most pressing problems we are facing today – energy.
algOS, which stands for algae Open Source is all about that – an open source movement for oil production from algae.
While the open source energy / biofuel concept can be extended to any biofuel, we are starting this movement with algae as the feedstock as we feel algae have one of the best chances of being our biofuel energy crop of the future.
If you are interested in knowing further about how you can contribute as well towards algOS, you can send a note to Narsi Santhanam ( narsi at esource dot in). We will soon be coming up with an online submission form, for the time being please bear with us and send your requests through email.
So far we have received a good number of enquiries about algOS from enthusiasts around the world, and using their combined feedback and suggestions, we plan to evolve algOS from a concept stage right now to something more concrete in the next few months. Watch this page for regular updates on the same.
We look forward to hearing from you too about your views on algOS.
The algOS Team @ Oilgae
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