Alternative Power Sources?

[Az]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat


Ok, you take care of the arabs for us, and we'll spend the money on something else.

"something else" is a tad vague, don't you think?

[The Mad Monk]

Originally posted by Spiffor

What about stop burning coal ?
Or maybe there could be ways to capture and to recycle the emissions, so that the process becomes at least more productive for the same amount of greenhouse pollution. I've read there has been an attempt similar to this in Italy, where the emissions of a high chimney were converted for very significant energy production (something like 5,000 gWh a year)

The problem is, it applies whenever you burn hydrocarbons (hence the name). The lighter hydrocarbons produce less CO₂ until you hit methane, but that's still producing 33% CO₂ by molar fraction, and a lot more than that if you're going by weight.

[Dis]

yep, there's no way around that.

By the way we do burn coal for about 25% of the U.S. electricity needs. Bush did approve more money into clean coal research last year.

Coal is something the U.S. has a lot of. I believe we have one of the biggest coal reserves in the world.

I really don't have too much problem with coal use for now. If we're going to burn hyrdocarbons, might as well use coal too.

But it would be so much better if we could find clean energy sources.

Dammit! we need dilithium crystals

[Az]

how about dumping the CO2 deep in the ocean? I am not sure of the effects of rising CO2 levels in the water on deep currents or fish populations. I think it'd help algae, though, and this could be good.

[Atahualpa]

Az: Dumping Co2 in the ocean is not a great trick. First you have to dump it very very deep or it will rise and pollute the air. Then it is very hard to keep it stick to a certain place because it will start to wander around and then its very hard to control. Also I suspect the fish wouldnt appreciate it that much

[Az]

Of course it should be dumped very deep. Otherwise, we just might pump it into the air!

Btw, when calculating future CO2 levels, and searching for the carbon sink which currently is thought to be in the world's jungles, has anyone considered the possibility of the CO2 partially dissolved in the oceans?