Re: on growing interest in cellulosic and other biofuels....

On Sat, 25 Mar 2006 03:28:55 -0000, "Gaz" <gazter@xxxxxxx>

typed:
abelard wrote:
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/02/06/8367959/index.htm
"...It takes about 30% more ethanol than gasoline to drive a mile, and the
stuff is more corrosive, but building a car that's E85-ready adds only
about $200 to the cost. Ethanol has already transformed one major economy:
In Brazil nearly three-quarters of new cars can burn either ethanol or
gasoline, whichever happens to be cheaper at the pump, and the nation has
weaned itself off imported oil.

(ie, a free market approach)

It seems to be cutting down its rainforest to plant the crops necessary for
the biofuels though, and wasnt it you yourself, some months ago when i asked
whether some large scale viability issues would be a problem, and it was
pointed out the energy input required to create biofuels was not far off
what was given in return.

yes, it was...
the situation is changing as technology rushes forward....

one...
the biofuel technology atm consists of squeezing oil out of oil
bearing plants....that is imv not viable
the item i am quoting from is a fellow who is *promoting* biofuels
and who is clearly influencing the us gov't....
i don't trust his detachment....

two...
this is referring to new technology involving enzymes designed to
convert the cellulose part of plants to methanol/ethanol....
that would mean much more bulk available...and it is bulk that
is less viable for food....

three....
there are going to be all manner of developments as gene modification
advances....

four...there ain't no such thing as a free lunch...and i have no *clear*
indication of how much land this will involve, what it will do to the
land etc...
it (fuel extraction) could improve cash crop yields in all manner
of situation...eg poor countries...and extra returns for farming
in the west...


look through this ppt presentation by the fellow...(this is a pdf version)
http://www.ostp.gov/pcast/Jan06/Biofuels_Dec2005.v3.1.pdf

regards...

.

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