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SCMP Reporter

The world is looking for an alternative to oil because it pollutes the environment when we use it and  new supplies are getting hard to find.  
A large oil spill that resulted from the explosion of a BP oil rig on April 20  is still polluting the Gulf of Mexico. 
Algae, that slimy green stuff you see along the water's edge, are becoming  a popular alternative to oil. 
Scientists are  trying to grow algae in large quantities and turn them into fuel for your car. Many companies, including Exxon Mobil  and Dow Chemical,  are spending money on  such research.
Algae need water, sunlight and carbon dioxide to grow. They  can produce two  types of fuel - ethanol and biodiesel. Both types are much cleaner than burning petroleum-based diesel or gas. 
Scientists have been working  for years on ways to turn plants into fuel.  If you ferment the sugar  from a plant, you get a type of alcohol that  can  drive an engine. This product is  called bioethanol, and is widely used in the  United States and Brazil.  
There is controversy, however. Biofuel can be produced from any organic material;  corn,  soya beans and certain types of grasses are  commonly used.  This means people grow food crops to make car fuel - not for eating.  
Algae  are different because we don't eat algae. They  can be produced using ocean or waste water, thus protecting  supplies of fresh water, and  algae fuel will not harm the environment if it spills.
However, there are still problems. 
Growing algae requires fertiliser, which is bad for the environment, and  making ethanol from algae  uses a lot of energy. 
You won't be able to run your car on  algae fuel tomorrow, but energy experts believe this is a good substitute for fossil fuels. That's one small answer to our environmental problems.
Cameron is available to speak to primary and secondary students about environmental  issues and his  Arctic sailing expedition from June to October last year. Contact info@openpassage expedition.com




Making fuel from slime