Comments on: New Energy Secretary Involved in Ethanol Research

By: James Brannigan

James Brannigan — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:30:07 +0000

We were researching using the rhizomes of cattails for ethanol 30 years ago in Florida and it proved to be very successful.
Secretary Chu should be a great asset to cattail research.
Twenty years from now this process could be a giant industry.

By: flee

flee — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:50:14 +0000

It’s amazing the power of open markets. So much talent invested in solving countries problems. We are at are best when challenged and gov’t salts some seed money around. CIC GW did a good thing with putting the challenge and timetable to industry. We have so many viable options yet no gov’t enity should declare a winner. Cat tails or algae sounds good on paper yet the huge database of investors and producers armed and motivated with desire to make a profit or punishment of losing it all will make the best decisions. Traditional agricultural farmers will be very hard competitor. They will produce more and till more acreage. Farmers will grow fuel crops of sweet sorghum, sugar corn, and genetic modified corn capable of double production per acre.

A controls company now selling a skid mounted ethanol production plant for farmers for 500k gallon/year automatic production. May a farmer be in position to make efficiencies upon market demands from plantings to production on the farm? Truck or store fuel to local markets?

A very small company around here, has hooked up with the local town waste treatment plant. Ya, this Doctorate microbiologist own a small R&D company currently producing ethanol from city waste. A town below me has some retired entrepreneurs who combined talents and in production a Personal Power Plant whereupon a wood pellet stove is utilized for entire home energy needs.

Should we be urging engine manufacturers to instead of developing flex fuel engines….much better to concentrate on E95 or E100 fuel. Utilize engine technology for exploiting ethanol to maximum. Direct injection of ethanol and water. Diesel technology alone will boost engine efficiencies 30%. Extremely high compression and extreme turbo boosts. How about the mature refrigeration technology already improving stationary diesel efficiencies by 20% by capturing the cooling water and exhaust heat within the organic cycle. No need for radiators. How about mini-hybrids technology that Ford purchased from parts supplier? Utilizing a small alternator/motor that can easily and cheaply convert even older autos to hybids. All auxiliary engine components driven by battery energy. Also, regenerative braking capable. A easy 15% to 30% improvement in fuel mileage.

By: PabloKoh

PabloKoh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:33:54 +0000

Cattails from sewage treatment = 12,000 gallons of ethanol/acre. Like hitting 2 birds with one stone. Clean sewage and make fuel.

By: Bill Johnston

Bill Johnston — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:03:05 +0000

Cat Tails (from a body of water) are most productive for producing fuel alchohol according to David Blume, an expert in the field.
http://www.alcoholcanbeagas.com/
phone: 831-471-9164
fax: 831-471-9166
Email us:info@alcoholcanbeagas.com

By: There is NO Santa Claus

There is NO Santa Claus — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:10:12 +0000

Ethanol and bio diesel are the wave of the future. Algea grown from powerplant CO2 emissions hold a lot of potential.

I like Barak O’Bama’s choice for Sec. of Energy. It’s about time we put a physicist in charge of that department instead of a political hack.