A nice theme has developed this week: turning waste cellulose/plant material into fuel. The Good Reverend sent me this link about a startup that is using genetically modified E. Coli to turn waste cellulose into crude oil. It's got some big-oil people in on the project, and they're looking to have their first demonstration-scale plant running by 2010 and commercial one by 2011.
For you Carbon Counters out there, this way of producing fuel is actually carbon-negative. A nice side benefit.
What's so encouraging to me about technologies utilizing waste cellulose is that even cities would be able to provide a fuel digester with plenty of material -- paper, food waste, etc.
Enjoy what little tiny bugs can do for you,
Bp
[via Charlie's Diary]
3 comments:
Interesting and encouraging.
In my opinion, one of the things that has made ethanol so successful as an alternative fuel is that it did not displace existing delivery infrastructure, did not require retooling of automobiles, etc.
Tot he extent future alternative fuels have the same properties, they will be more easily embraced and adopted by the owners of the existing infrastructure.
Yeah, the downfall and viability of this type of technology. The old money systems are happy because they can keep a thumb on things, but the transition is easier because all the equipment to burn and distribute the product already exist.
Double edged sword for sure.
not "downfall" actually, just bummer
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