Joule Teases Alt-Energy Sector with Solar Biofuel

Joule Biotechnologies, a Massachusetts based research firm, claims they have developed a microorganism that uses photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide into ethanol, as well as diesel that is chemically identical to the petroleum-derived liquid. The company is refusing to reveal their method outright, saying only that it is "not algae" and likely to be the only organism of its kind. According to Joule, these organisms will yield 20,000 gallons per acre per year, and do not require soil or fresh water to survive.

To appreciate the scale of their claimed output, consider that the EPA estimates that America consumes about 411 million gallons of gasoline per day. That means that if the entire country was converted to diesel, it would take less than 8 million acres to power the entire nation for a year. That's less than half the size of Texas.

The vague information and unprecedented claims have led to levels of skepticism in the green community, though Joule claims that their first Solar Converter will be operational by 2010 at an undisclosed location. The facility is thought to be co-located near a power plant or processing facility that can supply generous amounts of CO2. Joule already has plans to field the first commercial application of the Solar Converter by 2012, and estimates an fuel costs will slightly cheaper than today's oil price of $68.15 per barrel.

Joule's microorganism will be a direct competitor to the myriad algae-to-fuel research programs being funded by the U.S. Government, Exxon, and even Dow Chemical, all of which are yet to be proven to work at a commercial scale.

In other news today, a glob of giant green mess was reportedly on the loose today in the streets of Boston. After taking a left off of Commonwealth Avenue, it reared up to engulf Fenway Stadium, turning it into something that was said to be chemically identical to a petroleum-derived liquid. When asked about the incident, Joule reported, "What do you want from us? We told you no soil or water needed. Just build disposable stadiums and the fuel crisis is over!"