Teaching Alternative Energy through Biodiesel from Algae

As the world's energy demands continually increase, the sources of today's energy are drastically depleting and the search for renewable fuel is growing.Biofuels are desirable because the carbon dioxide released when combusted is ultimately captured by photosynthetic plants, thus making the emissions process essentially carbon neutral.The extent to which biofuels can eventually replace fossil fuels as the world's primary source of energy depends on how efficiently they are produced.As research in this field intensifies to optimize these production methods, it is imperative to educate students on the importance of alternative energy.Biodiesel from algae has great potential because of its high-volume, cost efficient production.Consequently, it is crucial for engineers and scientists to understand how algal growth is affected by parameters such as temperature and carbon dioxide concentration, as well as the methodology on how to extract the necessary oils from these sources.One way to incorporate this topic into the chemical engineering curriculum is to integrate alternative energy research as a six credit sequence.By allowing students to perform independent research, students benefit from a learning experience that allows them to think both critically and creatively.Most importantly, these hands-on projects help increase student interest in the field of renewable energy, which will become important in educating the next generation of engineers.