tech/energy/science { If this is true, it would be so cool

Sunlight to Petrol. Reverse conversion of CO2 into fuel.

Seems like Science Fiction, but I hope it actually works, the chemical catalyst process seems sound. It will also be the closest to closing the loop as we have come so far.

I also don't think it will 15-20 years out, unless the big energy consortiums stymie this like they've done to other alternative energy research. If they were smart, they would adopt and fund this (which in turn could bring a viable large scale implementation reality in probably under a decade) and do as suggested by starting with these systems installed into existing power producing facilities to reclaim CO2 for recycling. Then expand it into a system that reclaim excess (and note I said excess) CO2 levels from the atmosphere.

Projecting this ahead, my concerns would be that if someone had developed an efficient removal process to scrub the CO2 from the air, how would it impact plant life? Would we, ironically, cool the planet too fast? We would have to strike a balance, which can be problematic with profit driven entities.

But, I like this idea, it will be a good bridging technology to help extend what resources we have and buy us some more time to develop better renewable and alternative energy sources.

energy { 2007 Nobel Conference (redux)

The webcasts of the energy conference talks at Gustavus are finally up.

energy { 2007 Nobel Conference

Gustavus Adolphus College is hosting a Nobel Conference this week, and the topic is "Heating Up: The Energy Debate". Noted presenters include Professor Kenneth Deffeyes of Princeton, James E. Hansen of NASA Goddard and Columbia University, and polar explorer and conservationist Will Steger. The conference will undoubtedly touch on the major interrelated issues of energy, peak oil, and global climate change. I cannot attend the conference myself (although I made the time to hear Ray Kurzweil at Mayo this morning), but Gustavus will be posting online video of the two days (today and tomorrow) shortly. Worth a look, given the importance of the topic and the notability of the speakers.

Information on the conference is here.

The webcast will likely be posted here.

environment { another hidden cost of energy

Our water. This is no surprise, it takes an insane amount of clean water to make things we use in our lives from computer chips, to cars, to, well, more water. I assumed water would be needed in the creation of Ethanol, the much touted 'green' alternative energy source here in the Midwest, a salvation looked to by farmers who are being pressed by international competition and agri-corps. But I never knew how much water it takes to make 1 gallon of Ethanol and was shocked to learn it takes 3.7 gallons! Ethanol has been a controversial alternative fuel for decades, mostly because it takes more energy per unit to produce with current methods than can be derived out of it as a fuel source.

Priorities { Budget

Energy dependence is probably the single greatest threat to our ongoing security as a nation and as an economy. Reducing dependence on foreign oil, as well as fossil fuels generally, is probably the single most needed development to secure any future for America. The only reason the world pays any major attention to Southwest Asia and the 12th century cultures living there is oil. If Africa had as much oil as Saudi Arabia, you can bet American soldiers would be knee-deep in the Sahara on some foolhardy empire-building exercise. When things get tough, expect America to consider Canada and Venezuela as potential targets.

Proposed Department of Energy R&D budget for FY2007: $2.7 billion ¹

Proposed defense budget for FY2007, including the requested money for the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through FY2008, but not counting the interest on the debt that defense spending has been responsible for: $745 billion ²

It is clear by these choices that we have little interest in actually fixing our problems. America's major interest seems to be keeping the oil industry and defense contractors flush with cash while Rome burns.

Cut the military budget by $100 billion. Today. Put half that money into renewable energy research, and the other half into subsidies for communities to work on ways of conserving more and becoming more efficient. We will be both better for it generally and we will be more safe. Our security theater and neocon hawk methods are only speeding the demise of an America that can be salvaged. The promise of easy motoring, a car in every garage and a suburban house with a white picket fence for all is over.

In short, America, put your money where your mouth is and invest in things that give us a future, instead of just incompetently trying to prolong the inevitable.