Comments on: Los Alamos scientists propose turning CO2 into gasoline http://www.burnertrouble.com/oil-and-energy/los-alamos-scientists-propose-turning-co2-into-gasoline/ Water wars, oil wars, climate change, global warming, A personal view Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:05:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Red Craig http://www.burnertrouble.com/oil-and-energy/los-alamos-scientists-propose-turning-co2-into-gasoline/#comment-340 Red Craig Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:33:27 +0000 http://www.burnertrouble.com/oil-and-energy/los-alamos-scientists-propose-turning-co2-into-gasoline/#comment-340 This could make a huge difference. Before, there were no plausible means of producing motor fuels that didn't raise the CO2 levels. Biofuels won't do the job, and there's no guarantee that portable hydrogen storage will ever be achieved or that batteries will ever achieve the kinds of energy densities required. Martin and Kubic make a convincing case and, if they're right, we really could avoid the worst consequences of global warming. I wonder if they might be overstating the capital costs. To meet the world's electricity needs the installed electrical capacity has to satisfy peak demand, which means most of the time there'll be idle equipment. Why couldn't that idle equipment generate the energy and hydrogen needed for motor fuels? This could make a huge difference. Before, there were no plausible means of producing motor fuels that didn’t raise the CO2 levels. Biofuels won’t do the job, and there’s no guarantee that portable hydrogen storage will ever be achieved or that batteries will ever achieve the kinds of energy densities required.

Martin and Kubic make a convincing case and, if they’re right, we really could avoid the worst consequences of global warming.

I wonder if they might be overstating the capital costs. To meet the world’s electricity needs the installed electrical capacity has to satisfy peak demand, which means most of the time there’ll be idle equipment. Why couldn’t that idle equipment generate the energy and hydrogen needed for motor fuels?

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