» Algae, like all plants, uses
THE TECHNOLOGY ENN’s expertise in coal-gasification stems from one of the longest operating
carbon dioxide in photosynthesis; therefore carbon
underground coal gasification systems in the world in Ulan Qab, Inner Mongolia,
emissions can serve as feedstock for the plants’
which today generates both electricity and synthetic gas through a process the
growth. The ENN system grows algae in a bio-reac-
company developed. This process has been used for generating electricity since
tor in which the algae is placed in a series of glass
June 2009, and has already generated nearly 550,000 kilowatt-hours for use by the community.
tubes that are exposed to sunlight. Carbon dioxide from coal-gasification plant emissions is introduced into the tubes. The fast growing algae then can be harvested to produce biodiesel fuel, fertilizer, animal feed and mineral products.