How to Replace Oil

The water problem is not irrelevant if farmed in the ocean, particularly since one of the problems in our ocean is too much algae in one place at one time thanks to chemical fertilizers that are made of the phosphorous you think isn't needed and was already stated, the process requires very regulated temperatures to be effective. The cost of extracting the targeted triacylglycerides for biofuel does not justify the investment. Believe whatever you want to believe, but algae is not the answer to the world's energy needs and never will be.

 

That's a problem with all alternative fuel sources.

OK....When algae becomes competitive with fossil fuels then it will naturally be a viable alternative fuel. I believe that fossil fuels can cause LOCAL pollution. I do not believe that fossil fuels can significantly affect world climate.

If algae fuel becomes viable in the market why then...I will use it. You seem to want to MAKE it viable by using scare tactics.

I understand your position however I disagree that fossil fuels are threatening the Earth.

 

please note most plastics come from oil. As do most of the better lubricants. You cannot make steel without coal. Further burning hydrogen, H2, produced H2O. And the biggest problem with hydrogen is storage. The standard storage containers used for methane do not work because H2 molecules are so ridiculously tiny that they will over time and under pressure slowly leak through the crystalline lattice work of most metals.

 

Yes, keeping H2 contained is a challenge, thanks to the high speed at which H2 molecules move about.

As to making hydrocarbons from all kinds of carbon sources, there is always the Fischer-Tropsch process:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fischer–Tropsch_process

Note that all kinds of hydrocarbon species are produced in the process, including ethylene, the precursor of PE. So, the technology exists to make plastics from all kind of carbon sources.

 

You do know that the Hindenburg fire had much more to do with the aluminium coating on the hull than the hydrogen in the lift cells don't you?

 

Well taking in to consideration all the libby's sniveling about what petroleum energy is doing to the planets I found it ODD they would be so excitement over a new RENEWABLE source of petroleum, strange to say the least! Then again, maybe not so strange actually

 

I did not know that, I will do some reading. THANKS!

 

Well I agree with you, but its been pointed out that supply and demand are going to dictate when algae and other bio fuels become competitive.

Personally I prefer the notion of retrofitting existing internal combustion engines with hydride tanks and burning hydrogen. Consider grid losses are far greater than tank loss, particularly with decentralized solar production or wind.

Producing new cars has a huge carbon footprint. Using old ones does not. Time to stop cycling iron through furnaces. Auto makers need to back off and stop thinking that everyone gets a new car every year, or whatever. Sacrificing environment for that does not make sense. We could make a big dent in the global carbon footprint by only manufacturing new vehicles for specific un supplied uses for 20 years.

These days the manufacturers could provide CAM data for robotic retros of everything but the finish plumbing. Could get pretty cheap and efficient.

 

Where did you get the idea that "everyone gets a new car every year"?

Isn't the average car on the road in the U.S. something like 8 years old?

My family has three vehicles (two inherited). The newest is 12 years old.

 

That's more the corporate wet dream than a reality.

My newest of 2, is 32 years old, the oldest 46 years. I may start experimenting with water vapor and browns gas to decrease petroleum consumption.