TEG

www.roanoke.com/editorials/wb/wb/xp-119477
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...228,full.story

TEG

MDR

doug

Interesting. I've heard of Liquefied Coal before, but not the idea of using heat from a nuclear reactor in the process. I have to say, though, the lack of balance in the article was a bit disturbing. Instead of simply reporting on the concept, it actively promotes it. It's also poorly written, repeating the same information a couple paragraphs later.

The author clearly has a political bias and derides those that might have environmental concerns. I'd like to see a comprehensive energy analysis of the CTL process. They are certainly using a lot of energy to attach hydrogen atoms to carbon, just to have them separated again in combustion. I'm sure you're better off just burning that coal directly to produce electricity.


Edit: Well this explains it. Apparently the source of the article is The New American, the bi-weekly publication of the John Birch Society.

TEG

vfx

David Sandalow, author of "Freedom From Oil" writes,

"South Africa’s coal-to-liquid plant is the “largest single source of carbon dioxide emissions in the world”.

Amazon.com: Freedom From Oil: How the Next President Can End the United States' Oil Addiction: David Sandalow: Books

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The world loves to be deceived.

Cobos

Not that I'm defending either coal-to-gas or the South African apartheid regime, but I can understand their solution to a genuine problem. They had pretty effective oil blockade and needed gasoline for transportation, regardless of monetary and enviromental cost. This was a refining of what germany did a lot during WW2. I guess the reason they continue doing it is the cost of the entire structure is sunk and hence the price of a barrel of gasoline is lower now than on the free market.

Cobos

thompsonlewis

Coal is available worldwide enabling countries to access domestic coal reserves and decrease reliance on oil imports – improving energy security. Coal liquids can be used for transport, cooking, stationary power generation, and in the chemicals industry.

For more information visit: Coal to liquids

dpeilow

As TEG says: Snake oil

See also:It's not clean and certainly not green - it's a coal-powered Caddy - AutoblogGreen

graham

*shrug* seems to make about as much sense as corn-based ethanol. I mean that in both the bad and good sense.

Methanol from coal is a globally available resource that is pretty much rich in the areas of the world that are oil-poor. It is a way to break the oil cartel which is a more immediate and tangible problem for most than global warming.

As an ultimate solution, it is lousy, obviously. As a bridge solution to a fleet that is affordable, non-petrol based and eventually better for the environment... Well, it is better to have options than not.

If this were used as an expedient solution to help break OPEC, it doesn't necessarily slow down the conversion of the fleet to electricity. If used just as a bridge to that goal, it would be less damaging to the environment, economy, global stability than keeping the oil-based status quo.