Need to FAST TRACK our research on this! I think this maybe something I maybe involved in for a couple of years!<\/p>\n
The pressing question, then, remains: What\u2019s going to replace oil?
\nLet\u2019s draw up a specification for the ideal replacement. We\u2019d like a fuel with the energy density of oil, or better. We\u2019d like the only per-unit cost to be sunlight, because that\u2019s the only thing that\u2019s 100% renewable and (unlike tidal, hydropower, and geothermal) available everywhere. Ideally, we\u2019d like the stuff to not require a huge, expensive conversion job on our energy infrastructure.
\nHappily, I think this spec can be filled. There are demonstration plants making synthetic oil from algae at a per-unit cost not far above that of oil, and plenty of venture capital looking to fund more. As this technology scales up, algal-synfuel costs will drop below that of oil. At that point, the free market will have solved the problem.
\nArmed and Dangerous \u00bb Blog Archive \u00bb Why Alternative Energy Isn\u2019t<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Need to FAST TRACK our research on this! I think this maybe something I maybe involved in for a couple of years! The pressing question, then, remains: What\u2019s going to replace oil? Let\u2019s draw up a specification for the ideal replacement. We\u2019d like a fuel with the energy density of oil, or better. We\u2019d like … <\/p>\n