We're cleaning up our seas and skies through innovative alternative energy technology fueled by algae, waste and the sun.

From the world’s first algae and waste-powered planes, to the world’s largest solar-powered boat, new conservation technology is cleaning up transit by sea and air. Just yesterday we got our first look at the world’s largest solar-powered boat. Also this month, we got wind of U.S. and British plans to fly planes using two new alternative energy technologies — algae-fueled jets for the U.S. military and waste-powered planes for British Airways.

BY SEA

Thirty-one meters long and 15 meters wide, the new PlanetSolar is now the world’s largest solar-powered boat, equipped with 500 square meters of photovoltaic solar panels. Though it can currently travel at an average speed of 9 mph, that rate is expected to double – hopefully in time for PlanetSolar’s scheduled 2011 voyage around the world.

Equipped with what are considered the highest efficiency solar cells on the market today, it is no surprise that the world’s largest solar-powered boat comes with a hefty pricetag — $24.4 million.

BY AIR

Algae-Based Jet Fuel

Under the Obama administration, there is a commitment of $80 million toward the research and development of a new generation of algae and biomass fuels. To that end, the Pentagon says they are just months away from making algae fuel for military jet planes cost-competitive with traditional fossil fuels.

Here’s how it works. When algae grows it absorbs carbon dioxide. When algae is burned in the form of jet fuel, it releases the previously absorbed carbon dioxide. So in theory, algae produces a zero-carbon fuel .

Aside from helping the military achieve its goal of getting half of its energy from renewable fuels by 2016, algae-based jet fuel could improve the logistics of delivering fuel for jets in the field as it can be produced on site.

Waste-Based Jet Fuel

On the commercial end of alternative jet fuels, British Airways is ahead of the curve. To meet its own goal of generating 10 percent of its fuel from renewable resources by 2014, the airline is investing in the development of waste-based jet fuel. This goal is part of a broader mission of cutting British Airways greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050.

British Airways is building a plant that will convert waste into fuel – specifically, 500,000 tons of organic waste into 16 millions gallons of jet fuel, annually. The process is one in which trash is turned into a biosynthetic gas that is then converted into liquid fuel.

Certainly we’re a long way off from algae, waste or solar providing an affordable, practical means for fueling boats and planes on a mass scale. However, what is on the horizon, especially by way of jet fuel, is a promising migration toward a real revolution led by those best-equipped to inspire large-scale change — the military and business enterprise.

Meredith Simonds Renewable Energy algae, boat, Conservation, jet fuel, photovoltaic cells, PlanetSolar, Solar, U.S. military, waste