Quote:
Originally Posted by chriskiss
The high performance fuels are not obtained with a net energy gain. They burn more rapidly but there is no advantage to switching to methanol.
Hemp is not the answer. It takes energy to harvest (like corn, switchgrass and all other crops). Now, you run into the azeotrope problem that I keep preaching about and people keep ignoring. It's it a fundamental chemical property of water/ethanol mixtures being turned into fuel.
It won't work. Ethanol simply isn't the answer and will never be unless you're cracking it for the hydrogen and even then, there are more efficient ways of obtaining hydrogen.
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Why is it almost never mentioned that
it also takes considerable energy to extract, transport, and refine fossil fuels? The net energy gain argument is very important but "ramp up" is a key part of that equation. Namely, it takes time (and money) to build a matching infrastructure.
But I agree that ethanol is just a teaser right now.
If we can ever achieve efficient cellulosic ethanol production, and there are scientists who believe this may happen in 10-15 years, myscanthus and switchgrass could potentially become viable energy sources. Corn is completely impossible and I suspect that is exactly why it is getting so much industry backing.
Diesel engines offer a more immediate method to harness bio fuels.
Hemp is not the most efficient source of diesel oil but somewhat like corn it has a devoted following.
Personally I think algae is interesting.