Video

From Tulare Dairy Waste to Jet Fuel

By Justin Willis, KSEE24 News
August 29, 2012 Updated Aug 29, 2012 at 7:03 PM PDT

The plan is to take algae, produced here at the City of Tulare's waste-water facility, and convert it into jet fuel.

It's kind of gross...

But it's what could be powering the jet you take on your next vacation overseas.

It's oil, created from algae, and it could soon provide a viable replacement for petroleum.

David W. Gair, CEO, Pacific Oil Products: "The oil is really what everybody's after. That's the glamorous thing because you can turn it into jet fuel, you can turn it into diesel."

The wastewater from Tulare county dairies would be used in the process.

No, it doesn't come from manure...

But it does come from dairy waste, from cheese and milk, things like fats, oils, and greases...

And the algae just feeds on it.

"Algae explodes. It goes from nothing to sludge in 24 hours. It's much better production."

You're looking at YouTube video of the process from UC San Diego.

Huntington Beach-based Pacific Oil Products is working with the City of Tulare on the pilot project.

Officials say it could mean good news for air quality.

Lew Nelson, Tulare Public Works Director: "As the algae uses up the CO-2, it isn't going into the atmosphere."

It's a $2 million project, and it's all privately funded.

Initially, it's expected to produce about 500,000 gallons of oil a year, but the project could eventually produce six times that much.

But the process isn't just for jet fuel...

Pacific Oil CEO David Gair says the "meal" that comes out the compressor is actually edible.

Yes, for human consumption, but mainly for livestock, which could mean a big boost to the valley Ag industry.

Gair says it can change the world.

"Only algae, let's say 125,000 gallons per acre, per year, has the ability to produce enough oil to replace petroleum."

Pacific Oil says it's sold products to the Navy and Air Force. It's now attracting interest from the feds and from major airlines, both foreign and domestic.

Production at the Tulare waste-water facility is expected to begin early next year.

City officials say the oil could ship by the end of 2013.

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