• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Ethanol

Hindmost said:
30 billion barrels of oil use each year in the world isn't going to be replaced by ethanol. The sun just can't "grow" that much energy each year. This is the inherent problem with biofuels. Certain technologies have merit, but they are not going to change the thermo energy balance stuff.

No free lunch.

And I really have studied energy for 30 years.
Click to expand...
What annoys me most about most alternate-fuel proponents is their tendency to promote their particular favorite as a magic bullet to completely replace all fossil fuel production. Not going to happen. There simply isn't any magic bullet. Not ethanol, not biodiesel, not TDP, not even nuclear. Future energy needs are going to require a blend of technologies adapted to their strengths. Hemp- or algae-based biodiesel, switchgrass-based ethanol, and TDP petrol for fuel; nuclear, hydro, solar, and similar for grid power; and so on. No one single quick-fix solution.
 
soylent said:
You can build fuel cells for gasoline just as easily as you can for ethanol. Neither of them are all that more efficient than a good ICE though.
Click to expand...

Does a few cell that runs on a hydrocarbon generate power from converting carbon to CO2 or does it just generate power from converting hydrogen to H2O? If it just gets power from the hydrogen conversion, does that overcome the theoretical advantage that a hydrocarbon fuel cell would have?
 
luchog said:
What annoys me most about most alternate-fuel proponents is their tendency to promote their particular favorite as a magic bullet to completely replace all fossil fuel production. Not going to happen. There simply isn't any magic bullet. Not ethanol, not biodiesel, not TDP, not even nuclear. Future energy needs are going to require a blend of technologies adapted to their strengths. Hemp- or algae-based biodiesel, switchgrass-based ethanol, and TDP petrol for fuel; nuclear, hydro, solar, and similar for grid power; and so on. No one single quick-fix solution.
Click to expand...

I agree completely...and so few realize the issue. I can guarantee that nuclear can't fix any of the issue over the next 20 years--it will be fortunate to continue to produce the same amount of energy it does now.

glenn
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom