The Hydrogenase Airship concept looks like something you would see in a sci-fi movie.
In twenty to thirty years, eco-responsible transportation issues will be confronted by designers, researchers, architects, and specialists that hope to discover an environmentally driven course of action. Pollution is soaring to new heights, and innovative thinkers will be forced to rise beyond their previous methodologies to discover proper, self-sufficient types of transportation. A Hydrogenase airship powering itself with ingredients like seaweed is one concept being looked at.
Another example of this type of innovative, earth-conscious thinking is manifested in the bio-hydrogen airship, plucking its power source from carbon dioxide derived out of algae and seaweed farms. The airships are entirely self-sufficient; the sunlight and C02 are soaked up by the seaweed, which then generates hydrogen. Imagine this wonderful little airship in times of catastrophes, for this cutting-edge, bio-fuel machine will gladly soar above the woes of the world, at about 2,000 meters above the sea. What better way to get around then in an airship such as this? Many are suggesting the airship act as perhaps a floating hospital offering relief to remote areas of the world in times of disaster.
Briefly, the Hydrogenase airship is made with twenty wind turbines, flexible photovoltaic cells, while the interior of the ship is ready to be turned into space for offices, housing, laboratories, and entertainment. Most importantly, the ship will contain gardens within it, providing food to its inhabitants and recycling waste in the process. The carrying capacity of the airship is about 200 tons. But again, the major purpose for this eco-transportation wonder is to focus on rescue and humanitarian efforts. On a secondary level, the airship will be utilized for the purposes of eco-tourism, hotel, and media, for it will be a great facilitator of entertainment.
The closest thing to this level of sophistication is the modern airship, which is steered and propelled in the air by a thrusting mechanism. Of course this airship is hardly aerodynamic like many fixed wing aircrafts, but it is in fact extremely lightweight. When reputable architects were pressed about if micro-seaweed is superior to current biodiesel, the collective response was that micro-seaweed was in fact superior. Furthermore, the new airships have been designed in South China, which does not necessarily degrade or point to a lack of skilled innovators in the U.S.
It is obvious after viewing the Hydrogenase airship that its creation was inspired by nature, yet it also appears futuristic, alien-like. The creation is a perfect hybrid of biology and engineering, with absolutely zero carbon emission. The promise that this new creation brings is that hopefully additional transport companies will take on some of this inspiration and begin building these types of vehicles in the future. Although, at this time, it is unlikely that they will be mass-produced, given the extent of craftsmanship and relative cost to make. But it certainly provides a foreshadowing of what most transportation will look like in the future. In the meantime, the airship will certainly be useful, as it will hopefully be at the forefront of many humanitarian rescues around the world.
References
1. http://www.greendiary.com/entry/hydrogenase-airship-powered-by-seaweeds-to-ensure-emission-free-aviation/
2. http://www.tuvie.com/hydrogenase-bio-hydrogen-airship-for-the-future/
3. http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/10/high-flying-algae-airships-are-self-sufficient-airborne-cities/