Random Thoughts on Biofuels - Good/Bad

It is a complicated issue and isn't one that will be resolved by any simple analysis or slogan as in "Biofuels good/bad!". As with most things in life, it depends on how you do things.

A couple of random thoughts inspired by beths_stanley's recent post.

( MixMaster of the mind product ahead ... )

My conclusion.  There's nothing wrong with biofuels but they have to be within a sustainable guideline when it comes to international trade.  Kind of like wood from the Amazon.  Certified is good.

The argument that biofuels can't power everything doesn't make the argument that biofuels can't be good for some things.  This will especially be the case when we see plugin hybrids hitting the market.  All of a sudden, the demand for liquid fuel for transportation will take a massive hit and bring it into line with supply from sources like biofuels.

Random Thoughts on Biofuels - Good/Bad

It is a complicated issue and isn't one that will be resolved by any simple analysis or slogan as in "Biofuels good/bad!". As with most things in life, it depends on how you do things.

A couple of random thoughts inspired by beths_stanley's recent post.

( MixMaster of the mind product ahead ... )

My conclusion.  There's nothing wrong with biofuels but they have to be within a sustainable guideline when it comes to international trade.  Kind of like wood from the Amazon.  Certified is good.

The argument that biofuels can't power everything doesn't make the argument that biofuels can't be good for some things.  This will especially be the case when we see plugin hybrids hitting the market.  All of a sudden, the demand for liquid fuel for transportation will take a massive hit and bring it into line with supply from sources like biofuels.

Ontario Gets Re-Nuked

Even when the design is just a rebuild, not a from-scratch unit, they still get the pricing massively wrong. At what point does this bad joke end?

Ontario Electricity Consumers on Hook for Bruce Power Cost Overruns; Critics Say - CBC - 17 Apr 08

"Ontario electricity consumers will be the ones stuck with the bill for escalating costs to re-start a Bruce Power nuclear station, which the company now says will cost 24 per cent more than initially expected, critics warned Thursday. The nuclear electricity generator said Thursday it now estimates the cost of returning two idle reactor units to service at between $3.1 billion and $3.4 billion, up from an original 2005 cost projection of $2.75 billion."

Ontario Gets Re-Nuked

Even when the design is just a rebuild, not a from-scratch unit, they still get the pricing massively wrong. At what point does this bad joke end?

Ontario Electricity Consumers on Hook for Bruce Power Cost Overruns; Critics Say - CBC - 17 Apr 08

"Ontario electricity consumers will be the ones stuck with the bill for escalating costs to re-start a Bruce Power nuclear station, which the company now says will cost 24 per cent more than initially expected, critics warned Thursday. The nuclear electricity generator said Thursday it now estimates the cost of returning two idle reactor units to service at between $3.1 billion and $3.4 billion, up from an original 2005 cost projection of $2.75 billion."

Why Do I Keep Thinking Librium Here?

More good news on the lithium-ion battery front.

Revolutionary Lithium Ion Battery Research Now Funded by Saudis - ITWire - 19 Apr 08

"Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Yi Cui, has succeeded in developing a novel type of Lithium Ion battery that has an order of magnitude greater energy storage using silicon nanowires at the anode. The amount of lithium stored in a forest of tiny silicon nanowires, each with a diameter one-thousandth the thickness of a sheet of paper, is much greater than can be stored by the carbon in current Lithium Ion batteries.

"[T]he storage capability of the current generation of batteries still falls well short of gasoline. Silicon nanowire batteries could be the tipping point that makes long range electric cars a reality."

Why Do I Keep Thinking Librium Here?

More good news on the lithium-ion battery front.

Revolutionary Lithium Ion Battery Research Now Funded by Saudis - ITWire - 19 Apr 08

"Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Yi Cui, has succeeded in developing a novel type of Lithium Ion battery that has an order of magnitude greater energy storage using silicon nanowires at the anode. The amount of lithium stored in a forest of tiny silicon nanowires, each with a diameter one-thousandth the thickness of a sheet of paper, is much greater than can be stored by the carbon in current Lithium Ion batteries.

"[T]he storage capability of the current generation of batteries still falls well short of gasoline. Silicon nanowire batteries could be the tipping point that makes long range electric cars a reality."