[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.66,0:00:03.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some years ago, I set out to try to understand
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.16,0:00:05.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if there was a possibility to develop biofuels
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.89,0:00:10.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on a scale that would actually compete with fossil fuels
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.59,0:00:14.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but not compete with agriculture for water,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.27,0:00:16.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fertilizer or land.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.71,0:00:18.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here's what I came up with.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.24,0:00:19.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Imagine that we build an enclosure where we put it
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.85,0:00:22.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just underwater, and we fill it with wastewater
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.13,0:00:25.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and some form of microalgae that produces oil,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.26,0:00:27.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we make it out of some kind of flexible material
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.42,0:00:29.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that moves with waves underwater,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.49,0:00:31.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the system that we're going to build, of course,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.53,0:00:33.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will use solar energy to grow the algae,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.85,0:00:36.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they use CO2, which is good,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.06,0:00:38.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they produce oxygen as they grow.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.42,0:00:42.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The algae that grow are in a container that
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.09,0:00:44.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,distributes the heat to the surrounding water,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.88,0:00:47.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you can harvest them and make biofuels
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.14,0:00:49.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and cosmetics and fertilizer and animal feed,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.82,0:00:52.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and of course you'd have to make a large area of this,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.66,0:00:55.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so you'd have to worry about other stakeholders
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.22,0:00:59.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like fishermen and ships and such things, but hey,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.41,0:01:01.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we're talking about biofuels,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.67,0:01:03.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we know the importance of potentially getting
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.87,0:01:06.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an alternative liquid fuel.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.35,0:01:09.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why are we talking about microalgae?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.03,0:01:12.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here you see a graph showing you the different types
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.72,0:01:16.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of crops that are being considered for making biofuels,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.57,0:01:19.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so you can see some things like soybean,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.13,0:01:21.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which makes 50 gallons per acre per year,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.45,0:01:26.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or sunflower or canola or jatropha or palm, and that
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.51,0:01:31.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tall graph there shows what microalgae can contribute.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.00,0:01:33.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is to say, microalgae contributes between 2,000
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.53,0:01:36.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and 5,000 gallons per acre per year,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.32,0:01:39.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,compared to the 50 gallons per acre per year from soy.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.68,0:01:42.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what are microalgae? Microalgae are micro --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.94,0:01:45.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is, they're extremely small, as you can see here
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.39,0:01:48.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a picture of those single-celled organisms
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.36,0:01:50.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,compared to a human hair.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.67,0:01:53.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those small organisms have been around
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.49,0:01:55.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for millions of years and there's thousands
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.53,0:01:57.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of different species of microalgae in the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.76,0:02:00.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some of which are the fastest-growing plants on the planet,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.78,0:02:03.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and produce, as I just showed you, lots and lots of oil.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.97,0:02:07.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, why do we want to do this offshore?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.26,0:02:10.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, the reason we're doing this offshore is because
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.11,0:02:14.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you look at our coastal cities, there isn't a choice,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.70,0:02:17.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we're going to use waste water, as I suggested,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.50,0:02:19.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if you look at where most of the waste water
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.42,0:02:22.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,treatment plants are, they're embedded in the cities.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.98,0:02:26.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the city of San Francisco, which has 900 miles
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.67,0:02:29.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of sewer pipes under the city already,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.32,0:02:33.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it releases its waste water offshore.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.30,0:02:37.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So different cities around the world treat their waste water
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.21,0:02:39.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,differently. Some cities process it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.58,0:02:41.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some cities just release the water.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.22,0:02:43.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in all cases, the water that's released is
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.88,0:02:46.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,perfectly adequate for growing microalgae.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.84,0:02:48.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So let's envision what the system might look like.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.51,0:02:50.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We call it OMEGA, which is an acronym for
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.61,0:02:55.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Offshore Membrane Enclosures for Growing Algae.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.04,0:02:57.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At NASA, you have to have good acronyms.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.59,0:03:00.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So how does it work? I sort of showed you how it works already.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.44,0:03:04.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We put waste water and some source of CO2
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.16,0:03:07.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into our floating structure,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.20,0:03:10.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the waste water provides nutrients for the algae to grow,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.84,0:03:13.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they sequester CO2 that would otherwise go off
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.56,0:03:16.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.17,0:03:18.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They of course use solar energy to grow,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.50,0:03:21.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the wave energy on the surface provides energy
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.05,0:03:23.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for mixing the algae, and the temperature
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.35,0:03:25.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is controlled by the surrounding water temperature.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.91,0:03:29.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The algae that grow produce oxygen, as I've mentioned,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.27,0:03:32.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they also produce biofuels and fertilizer and food and
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.56,0:03:35.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,other bi-algal products of interest.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.100,0:03:39.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the system is contained. What do I mean by that?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.41,0:03:41.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's modular. Let's say something happens that's
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.54,0:03:43.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,totally unexpected to one of the modules.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.73,0:03:45.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It leaks. It's struck by lightning.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.93,0:03:48.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The waste water that leaks out is water that already now
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.54,0:03:50.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,goes into that coastal environment, and
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.93,0:03:53.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the algae that leak out are biodegradable,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.18,0:03:54.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and because they're living in waste water,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.26,0:03:57.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're fresh water algae, which means they can't
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.33,0:03:59.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,live in salt water, so they die.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.13,0:04:01.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The plastic we'll build it out of is some kind of
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.29,0:04:03.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,well-known plastic that we have good experience with, and
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.92,0:04:08.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we'll rebuild our modules to be able to reuse them again.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.77,0:04:12.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we may be able to go beyond that when thinking about
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.34,0:04:14.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this system that I'm showing you, and that is to say
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.82,0:04:17.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we need to think in terms of the water, the fresh water,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.66,0:04:20.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is also going to be an issue in the future,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.02,0:04:21.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we're working on methods now
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.86,0:04:24.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for recovering the waste water.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.38,0:04:27.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The other thing to consider is the structure itself.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.17,0:04:30.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It provides a surface for things in the ocean,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.22,0:04:33.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this surface, which is covered by seaweeds
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.47,0:04:35.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and other organisms in the ocean,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.96,0:04:39.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will become enhanced marine habitat
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.95,0:04:41.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so it increases biodiversity.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.61,0:04:43.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And finally, because it's an offshore structure,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.61,0:04:46.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can think in terms of how it might contribute
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.51,0:04:50.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to an aquaculture activity offshore.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.27,0:04:51.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you're probably thinking, "Gee, this sounds
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.86,0:04:56.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like a good idea. What can we do to try to see if it's real?"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.43,0:05:00.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I set up laboratories in Santa Cruz
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.24,0:05:03.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the California Fish and Game facility,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.40,0:05:06.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that facility allowed us to have big seawater tanks
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.45,0:05:08.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to test some of these ideas.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.18,0:05:10.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We also set up experiments in San Francisco
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.80,0:05:13.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at one of the three waste water treatment plants,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.63,0:05:16.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,again a facility to test ideas.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.12,0:05:19.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And finally, we wanted to see where we could look at
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.43,0:05:22.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what the impact of this structure would be
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.13,0:05:25.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the marine environment, and we set up a field site
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.79,0:05:28.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at a place called Moss Landing Marine Lab
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.25,0:05:30.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Monterey Bay, where we worked in a harbor
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.61,0:05:35.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see what impact this would have on marine organisms.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.46,0:05:38.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The laboratory that we set up in Santa Cruz was our skunkworks.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.55,0:05:41.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was a place where we were growing algae
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.45,0:05:44.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and welding plastic and building tools
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.11,0:05:45.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and making a lot of mistakes,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.64,0:05:47.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or, as Edison said, we were
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.57,0:05:51.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,finding the 10,000 ways that the system wouldn't work.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.02,0:05:55.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, we grew algae in waste water, and we built tools
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.26,0:05:58.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that allowed us to get into the lives of algae
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.69,0:06:00.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that we could monitor the way they grow,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.42,0:06:03.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what makes them happy, how do we make sure that
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.12,0:06:07.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we're going to have a culture that will survive and thrive.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.02,0:06:10.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the most important feature that we needed to develop were these
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.11,0:06:12.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so-called photobioreactors, or PBRs.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.84,0:06:14.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These were the structures that would be floating at the
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.18,0:06:17.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,surface made out of some inexpensive plastic material
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.60,0:06:20.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that'll allow the algae to grow, and we had built lots and lots
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.26,0:06:23.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of designs, most of which were horrible failures,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.39,0:06:25.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when we finally got to a design that worked,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.73,0:06:28.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at about 30 gallons, we scaled it up
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.01,0:06:31.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to 450 gallons in San Francisco.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.63,0:06:33.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So let me show you how the system works.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.82,0:06:37.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We basically take waste water with algae of our choice in it,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.54,0:06:40.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we circulate it through this floating structure,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.24,0:06:42.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this tubular, flexible plastic structure,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.97,0:06:44.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it circulates through this thing,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.47,0:06:47.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there's sunlight of course, it's at the surface,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.18,0:06:49.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the algae grow on the nutrients.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.58,0:06:52.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But this is a bit like putting your head in a plastic bag.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.00,0:06:55.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The algae are not going to suffocate because of CO2,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.26,0:06:56.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as we would.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.10,0:06:58.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They suffocate because they produce oxygen, and they
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.76,0:07:00.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't really suffocate, but the oxygen that they produce
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.94,0:07:04.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is problematic, and they use up all the CO2.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.04,0:07:06.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the next thing we had to figure out was how we could
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.47,0:07:09.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,remove the oxygen, which we did by building this column
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.70,0:07:11.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which circulated some of the water,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.18,0:07:14.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and put back CO2, which we did by bubbling the system
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.55,0:07:17.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before we recirculated the water.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.00,0:07:18.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what you see here is the prototype,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.70,0:07:22.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was the first attempt at building this type of column.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.50,0:07:24.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The larger column that we then installed in San Francisco
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.94,0:07:26.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the installed system.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.57,0:07:29.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the column actually had another very nice feature,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.97,0:07:33.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that is the algae settle in the column,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.08,0:07:36.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this allowed us to accumulate the algal biomass
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.66,0:07:39.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a context where we could easily harvest it.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.63,0:07:42.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we would remove the algaes that concentrated
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.40,0:07:44.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the bottom of this column, and then we could
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.97,0:07:48.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,harvest that by a procedure where you float the algae
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.79,0:07:52.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the surface and can skim it off with a net.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.69,0:07:56.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we wanted to also investigate what would be the impact
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.32,0:07:59.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of this system in the marine environment,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.26,0:08:02.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I mentioned we set up this experiment at a field site
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.74,0:08:04.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Moss Landing Marine Lab.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.98,0:08:07.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, we found of course that this material became
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.82,0:08:10.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,overgrown with algae, and we needed then to develop
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.73,0:08:13.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a cleaning procedure, and we also looked at how
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.14,0:08:16.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,seabirds and marine mammals interacted, and in fact you
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.07,0:08:19.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,see here a sea otter that found this incredibly interesting,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.10,0:08:22.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and would periodically work its way across this little
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.20,0:08:25.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,floating water bed, and we wanted to hire this guy
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.09,0:08:27.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or train him to be able to clean the surface
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.18,0:08:29.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of these things, but that's for the future.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.58,0:08:30.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now really what we were doing,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.90,0:08:32.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we were working in four areas.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.68,0:08:35.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our research covered the biology of the system,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.56,0:08:37.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which included studying the way algae grew,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.73,0:08:41.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but also what eats the algae, and what kills the algae.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.38,0:08:43.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We did engineering to understand what we would need
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.56,0:08:45.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be able to do to build this structure,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.85,0:08:48.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not only on the small scale, but how we would build it
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.55,0:08:51.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on this enormous scale that will ultimately be required.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.87,0:08:55.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mentioned we looked at birds and marine mammals
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.07,0:08:57.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and looked at basically the environmental impact
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.60,0:09:00.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the system, and finally we looked at the economics,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.75,0:09:02.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what I mean by economics is,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.40,0:09:05.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what is the energy required to run the system?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.50,0:09:06.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do you get more energy out of the system
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.92,0:09:08.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than you have to put into the system
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.50,0:09:10.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be able to make the system run?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.52,0:09:12.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what about operating costs?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.26,0:09:14.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what about capital costs?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.32,0:09:18.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what about, just, the whole economic structure?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.48,0:09:21.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So let me tell you that it's not going to be easy,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.20,0:09:23.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there's lots more work to do in all four
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.76,0:09:27.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of those areas to be able to really make the system work.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.35,0:09:30.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we don't have a lot of time, and I'd like to show you
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.27,0:09:33.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the artist's conception of how this system might look
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.77,0:09:36.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if we find ourselves in a protected bay
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.45,0:09:39.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,somewhere in the world, and we have in the background
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.63,0:09:42.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this image, the waste water treatment plant
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.40,0:09:45.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a source of flue gas for the CO2,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.28,0:09:48.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but when you do the economics of this system,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.01,0:09:51.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you find that in fact it will be difficult to make it work.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.08,0:09:55.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unless you look at the system as a way to treat waste water,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.65,0:09:59.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sequester carbon, and potentially for photovoltaic panels
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.38,0:10:02.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or wave energy or even wind energy,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.86,0:10:04.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if you start thinking in terms of
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.13,0:10:07.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,integrating all of these different activities,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.17,0:10:11.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you could also include in such a facility aquaculture.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.82,0:10:14.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we would have under this system a shellfish aquaculture
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.75,0:10:16.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where we're growing mussels or scallops.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.84,0:10:19.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We'd be growing oysters and things
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.83,0:10:22.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that would be producing high value products and food,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.67,0:10:25.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this would be a market driver as we build the system
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.44,0:10:28.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to larger and larger scales so that it becomes, ultimately,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.76,0:10:34.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,competitive with the idea of doing it for fuels.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.56,0:10:37.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there's always a big question that comes up,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.25,0:10:40.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because plastic in the ocean has got a really bad reputation
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.60,0:10:43.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,right now, and so we've been thinking cradle to cradle.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:43.59,0:10:46.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What are we going to do with all this plastic that we're
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.30,0:10:49.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,going to need to use in our marine environment?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.04,0:10:50.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I don't know if you know about this,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.56,0:10:53.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in California, there's a huge amount of plastic
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.32,0:10:56.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's used in fields right now as plastic mulch,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.67,0:10:59.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is plastic that's making these tiny little greenhouses
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.89,0:11:02.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,right along the surface of the soil, and this provides
Dialogue: 0,0:11:02.64,0:11:05.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,warming the soil to increase the growing season,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.90,0:11:08.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it allows us to control weeds,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.44,0:11:12.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and, of course, it makes the watering much more efficient.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.04,0:11:14.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the OMEGA system will be part
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.35,0:11:17.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of this type of an outcome, and that when we're finished
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.43,0:11:20.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,using it in the marine environment, we'll be using it,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.12,0:11:22.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hopefully, on fields.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.67,0:11:23.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Where are we going to put this,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.99,0:11:26.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what will it look like offshore?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.50,0:11:29.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's an image of what we could do in San Francisco Bay.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.49,0:11:32.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,San Francisco produces 65 million gallons a day
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.17,0:11:34.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of waste water. If we imagine a five-day retention time
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.93,0:11:37.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for this system, we'd need 325 million gallons
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.30,0:11:41.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to accomodate, and that would be about 1,280 acres
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.33,0:11:44.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of these OMEGA modules floating in San Francisco Bay.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.95,0:11:46.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, that's less than one percent
Dialogue: 0,0:11:46.74,0:11:48.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the surface area of the bay.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.49,0:11:52.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It would produce, at 2,000 gallons per acre per year,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.23,0:11:55.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it would produce over 2 million gallons of fuel,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:55.23,0:11:57.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is about 20 percent of the biodiesel,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.43,0:12:00.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or of the diesel that would be required in San Francisco,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.44,0:12:03.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's without doing anything about efficiency.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.63,0:12:06.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Where else could we potentially put this system?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:06.60,0:12:09.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's lots of possibilities.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.50,0:12:11.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's, of course, San Francisco Bay, as I mentioned.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:11.55,0:12:13.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,San Diego Bay is another example,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:13.37,0:12:16.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mobile Bay or Chesapeake Bay, but the reality is,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:16.28,0:12:18.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as sea level rises, there's going to be lots and lots
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.37,0:12:22.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of new opportunities to consider. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.28,0:12:25.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what I'm telling you about is a system
Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.85,0:12:29.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of integrated activities.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:29.48,0:12:32.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Biofuels production is integrated with alternative energy
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.09,0:12:34.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is integrated with aquaculture.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.89,0:12:38.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I set out to find a pathway
Dialogue: 0,0:12:38.81,0:12:44.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to innovative production of sustainable biofuels,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:44.46,0:12:47.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and en route I discovered that what's really required
Dialogue: 0,0:12:47.71,0:12:54.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for sustainability is integration more than innovation.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.98,0:12:58.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Long term, I have great faith
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.42,0:13:03.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in our collective and connected ingenuity.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:03.56,0:13:07.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think there is almost no limit to what we can accomplish
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.88,0:13:10.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if we are radically open
Dialogue: 0,0:13:10.08,0:13:13.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we don't care who gets the credit.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:13.81,0:13:18.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sustainable solutions for our future problems
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.02,0:13:20.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are going to be diverse
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.42,0:13:22.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and are going to be many.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:22.89,0:13:25.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think we need to consider everything,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.68,0:13:28.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,everything from alpha to OMEGA.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.71,0:13:31.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you. (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:31.59,0:13:36.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.35,0:13:40.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Chris Anderson: Just a quick question for you, Jonathan.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:40.56,0:13:42.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Can this project continue to move forward within
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.77,0:13:46.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NASA or do you need some very ambitious
Dialogue: 0,0:13:46.73,0:13:50.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,green energy fund to come and take it by the throat?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.81,0:13:52.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Jonathan Trent: So it's really gotten to a stage now
Dialogue: 0,0:13:52.11,0:13:55.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in NASA where they would like to spin it out into something
Dialogue: 0,0:13:55.12,0:13:57.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which would go offshore, and there are a lot of issues
Dialogue: 0,0:13:57.52,0:13:59.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with doing it in the United States because of limited
Dialogue: 0,0:13:59.74,0:14:02.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,permitting issues and the time required to get permits
Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.24,0:14:03.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to do things offshore.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:03.75,0:14:06.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It really requires, at this point, people on the outside,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:06.55,0:14:08.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we're being radically open with this technology
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.85,0:14:10.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which we're going to launch it out there
Dialogue: 0,0:14:10.56,0:14:12.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for anybody and everybody who's interested
Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.84,0:14:14.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to take it on and try to make it real.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:14.68,0:14:17.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,CA: So that's interesting. You're not patenting it.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:17.16,0:14:18.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're publishing it.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.83,0:14:19.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,JT: Absolutely.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:19.60,0:14:21.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,CA: All right. Thank you so much.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:21.49,0:14:25.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,JT: Thank you. (Applause)