Green Fuel from coal - greener energy?
by rd @ 7:35 pm 3 comments »
part of our never ending search for green fuel alternatives
Silverado Green Fuels Inc. purports to have developed a coal based technology (hydrothermal treatment process) with the potential to augment or replace oil based energy at a fraction of the cost. The company is potentially three years away from having a fully operational facility up and running in Mississippi. The company’s technology usies low-rank coal, America’s most abundant natural fuel resource, in its production process with the resulting ‘Green Fuel‘ potentially being used in a wide range of energy related applications previously supplied by traditional fossil fuels. Green Fuel is purported by the company to be a stable, low-cost, liquid fuel alternative to traditional petroleum derived fuels.
some features:
- no release of greenhouse gases in production
- no toxic by-products
- H2O used in process can be recycled/re-used
- fuel can be used to fuel oil-fired power plants
- fuel can be processed to create gasoline, industrial oil related products, and consumer plastics
- Green Fuel can be processed to produce hydrogen for fuel cell cars and power plants
The company has partnered with the Mississippi Development Authority and other state agencies to build a $26 million Green Fuel demonstration ‘Ecoplex’ plant. The plant will use the moisture-rich low-rank coal reserves found near the Mississippi site, and should be operating fully by 2010. Initial production costs are estimated at under $15 per barrel, on an oil equivalent energy basis, compared to $90 - $100/barrel crude oil.
The question we are left with is how to balance the ecosystem damage and land use issues related to mining the coal versus the energy production potential of the technology. When offshore wind farms like Cape Wind can create a public firestorm and nuclear power plant construction remains at a standstill, how will people react when companies propose a coal mine in their backyard?
Silverado Press Release
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Hmm,,interesting press release i was sent..First off they have said for years that a scientist they hired developed the process years ago. Now in their latest hype, they are claiming to have designed it themselves. I have heard some not so good things about them and MANY bad things about this greenwasher.. Beware. Not in my investment portfolio.
Great idea but I don’t think it will pan out. By 2010 solar panels will be about $2.00 a watt and banks will be begging to give you a loan for them. Why rent when you can own?
AlienFarmer
http://www.SolarCoupons.com
Coal is never green. Period. Go to grist.org or the like to learn why.