Re:Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes triple the density of...
by war1025 on Wednesday October 07, 2020 @12:39PM
(#24709988)
> Will this achieve the energy density of fossil fuels?
I think non-fossil-derived synthetic fuels have the potential to become a major player in the overall transportation picture.
Liquid fuels have significant energy density advantages. Producing them synthetically should allow for removal of various impurities that cause pollution issues today. And not pulling them out of the ground would get around the non-renewable angle.
To be clear though, I think this situation is different from the big Ethanol push we've had in the Midwest the past 20 years.
Everything I've seen about Ethanol is that it is ridiculously inefficient in terms of inputs vs outputs and basically just exists as a subsidy program for farmers to ensure we have enough food supply to avoid ever having shortages.
But I think synthetic fuel could be a big thing in the coming years, particularly since all automobile infrastructure already centers around easily refillable liquid fuels.
I think non-fossil-derived synthetic fuels have the potential to become a major player in the overall transportation picture.
Liquid fuels have significant energy density advantages. Producing them synthetically should allow for removal of various impurities that cause pollution issues today. And not pulling them out of the ground would get around the non-renewable angle.
To be clear though, I think this situation is different from the big Ethanol push we've had in the Midwest the past 20 years.
Everything I've seen about Ethanol is that it is ridiculously inefficient in terms of inputs vs outputs and basically just exists as a subsidy program for farmers to ensure we have enough food supply to avoid ever having shortages.
But I think synthetic fuel could be a big thing in the coming years, particularly since all automobile infrastructure already centers around easily refillable liquid fuels.