34 



Two, preliminary studies indicate gas costs would be competitive 

 with other SNG sources. 



Third, the biomass is a renewable resource with no apparent 

 negative environment impacts. 



If the technical challenges we face can be overcome, we believe 

 an ocean system of this type can provide substantial amounts of 

 renewable energy. 



I am pleased to answer any of your questions. With me today to 

 assist in this regard is Mr. Alan Tompkins, biomass program man- 

 ager for the General Electric Co., who manages the project for DOE 

 andORI. 



Mr. Studds. On page 6 of your testimony you say "Digestion of 

 kelp is providing gas yields equal to or greater than the other types 

 of biomass." 



On page 9, you say, "Preliminary studies indicate gas costs would 

 be competitive with other synthetic natural gas sources." 



Can you give us some actual figures with respect to relative yield 

 between this and other sources of types of biomass and with re- 

 spect to relative cost projections? 



Mr. Tompkins. In terms of the gas yields, we have gone to the 

 literature and have looked at yields in cubic feet per pound of 

 volatile solids added to the digestion process. Some of the research 

 data we looked at was terrestrial plants. 



The ranges that we are talking about are in the range of — for 

 other than kelp — are in the range of 3 to SV2 standard cubic feet of 

 all solids. Under steady state conditions through the last 2 years, 

 operating at the 10-liter scale, we have achieved over AV2, close to 5 

 standard cubic feet per pound of solids using macrocystis. That is 

 the only kind of seaweed that we have been running any experi- 

 ments on to date. 



Mr. Studds. What about with respect to your statement that 

 preliminary studies indicate gas costs would be competitive with 

 other SNG sources? 



Dr. Flowers. The preliminary estimates that we have made 

 indicate that gas costs range from about $3 to $6 a million BTU. 



Mr. Studds. That is for kelp? 



Dr. Flowers. For kelp, yes, sir. 



Mr. Studds. How about comparative costs of other sources? 



Dr. Flowers. For instance, SNG from coal would range on the 

 order of about $5 to $6, intermediate Btu gas would range from, 

 say, $4 to $6, of that nature. It is in the same ball park as other 

 alternative sources of energy. 



Mr. Studds. Synthetic? 



Dr. Flowers. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Studds. Mr. Forsjrthe. 



Mr. FoRSYTHE. In your statement you referred to continuous 

 fertilization to secure the maximum growth from the kelp. 



What type of fertilization do you do in this kind of a process? 

 Chemical fertilization? 



Dr. Flowers. No; we upwell, mechanically upwell deep ocean 

 waters. From about 500 feet on down, the nutrients in the ocean 

 begin to increase with depths to about 1,500 to 2,000 feet where it 

 begins to level off. It is according to the ocean currents, but those 



