Honolulu Weekly

Soaring gas prices have pushed people to desperate measures, from biking to work–which in Hawai’i is pretty darn dangerous–to squeezing oil from algae. And, the new moonshine is a home brew of vegetable grease for biodiesel.

The good news: almost any organic material can be converted into energy. Hawai’i’s potential comeback crop, sugarcane, whose fibers, affectionately called bagasse, are a form of organic waste which can be fermented into ethanol, an alcohol fuel. Other potential ‘cellulosic’ materials for ethanol production include sawdust and wood waste, rice hulls, rice straw, corn, wheat, soy beans, potato skins, sugar beets and yard clippings.

Most local gas users are already using one of these waste materials in their gas tanks. As of April 2, 2006, the state of Hawai’i has required 85 percent of Hawai’i’s gasoline to be E-10 Unleaded, which means the gas needs to contain at least 10 percent ethanol.

Unfortunately, alternative fuels, or clean technology, still cost more per gallon to produce than good old fossil fuel. ‘Alternative fuel options require some improvements in technology to make the pricing competitive,’ said Dr. Barry Raleigh, a researcher at the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute and managing partner of HR Biopetroleum, a start-up company working to manufacture algae-produced biodiesel.

He estimated that even with his company’s new algae technology, a barrel of biodiesel would cost $32 to $75 per barrel. Since most biodiesel is mixed with traditionally produced diesel, the cost is still too high to compete.

‘But we’re not too far away from being competitive,’ Dr. Raleigh said.

John McGee, a homebrewer by hobby, said he could make a gallon of biodiesel for $1. ‘The waste oil is free from restaurants and you don’t pay the huge per gallon highway tax uses,’ he said. ‘But obviously it’s not very scalable.’ In other words, mass production is still too expensive.

McGee thought scientists should look into genetically modified crops for alternative fuel options. ‘Imagine a Franken-plant that produces 10-pound soy beans rich in oils. If we can make a green pig, we must be able to make monster soy beans for fuel production!’

He may have a point since corn, the most common grain used in ethanol, would have to be planted pretty much across the entire United States to make up for fossil fuel.

However, hybrid cars, powered by a combination of battery and traditional gas, have continued to develop better technology and made in-roads into the car market. Some companies even offer additional plug-in kits to popular hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape, to get even more alternative power.

Still, cars love gas and people love cars. Waste-to-energy fuels are making a play, but until they can make a car vroom for the same cost per gallon, gas is king.