LS9, a Silicon Valley-based start-up has successfully produced 'renewable oil' using genetically modified bacteria.
Researchers have thus modified the genetic code of certain microbes (single-celled organisms) so that, when they feed on agricultural waste such as chips or wheat straw, they are able to excrete crude oil.
The company claims that this "Oil 2.0" will not only be renewable, but also carbon neutral - meaning that the carbon it emits will be less than that released into the atmosphere by the raw materials from which it is made.
LS9 is one of those Silicon Valley companies that have left traditional high-tech activities (software, hardware, chips, networks) to embark on the race for a barrel of economic oil. "All of us here - the people of this company and this industry - are aware of the urgency," said Pal, the startup's chief commercial officer.
The laboratory is funded to the tune of $ 20 million by private investors including the historic co-founder of Sun Micro-Système, the Indo-American, Vinod Khosla.
"Our goal is to have an operational demonstration plant by 2010 and, in parallel, we are working on the design and construction of a commercial scale facility scheduled for 2011," says Pal, adding that if LS9 uses Brazilian sugar cane as a raw material, its fuel would probably cost around $ 50 a barrel.
source: http://www.ls9.com/
I don't know what you think.
I do not find this to be such a good solution.
It will not change much, agricultural waste will sell for a high price, it will raise prices and we will find ourselves in an identical situation.
