Photovoltaics beat biofuels at converting sun's energy to miles driven

RSSfeed
RSSfeed Registered Users Posts: 3,810 ✭✭
in Solar Energy News RSS Feed #1
In 2005, President George W. Bush and American corn farmers saw corn ethanol as a promising fossil fuel substitute that would reduce both American dependence on foreign oil and greenhouse gas emissions. Accordingly, the 2005 energy bill mandated that 4 billion gallons of renewable fuel be added to the gasoline supply in 2006. That rose to 4.7 billion gallons in 2007 and 7.5 billion in 2012. Now a new study shows solar power is not only better in terms of energy efficiency, land use, and greenhouse gas emissions -- but it is cost competitive, too.hXV7jiaRNbo

More...
· Share on Twitter

Comments

  • solar_dave
    solar_dave Solar Expert Posts: 2,397 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Photovoltaics beat biofuels at converting sun's energy to miles driven

    I could have told them that! LOL
    · Share on Twitter
  • ggunn
    ggunn Solar Expert Posts: 1,973 ✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Photovoltaics beat biofuels at converting sun's energy to miles driven

    Plants are woefully inefficient at harvesting solar energy and converting it to biomass usable for fuels. I heard a story on the radio yesterday which said that if all the world's agriculture were converted to biofuels production it would supply less than 10% of the worlds energy needs. Plus, of course, no food would be produced.
    · Share on Twitter
  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Photovoltaics beat biofuels at converting sun's energy to miles driven

    No, it works. You just have to bury the plants under a million tons of rock for a few million years to concentrate it. :p
    · Share on Twitter
  • solar_dave
    solar_dave Solar Expert Posts: 2,397 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: Photovoltaics beat biofuels at converting sun's energy to miles driven
    Cariboocoot wrote: »
    No, it works. You just have to bury the plants under a million tons of rock for a few million years to concentrate it. :p

    Yep millions of years worth to be drawn out in a couple hundred years.
    · Share on Twitter
  • ggunn
    ggunn Solar Expert Posts: 1,973 ✭✭✭
    #6
    Re: Photovoltaics beat biofuels at converting sun's energy to miles driven
    Cariboocoot wrote: »
    No, it works. You just have to bury the plants under a million tons of rock for a few million years to concentrate it. :p
    Yeah, calling fossil fuels "non-renewable" is hogwash! New oil is being made every day! :D
    · Share on Twitter
  • inetdog
    inetdog Solar Expert Posts: 3,123 ✭✭✭✭
    #7
    Re: Photovoltaics beat biofuels at converting sun's energy to miles driven
    ggunn wrote: »
    Yeah, calling fossil fuels "non-renewable" is hogwash! New oil is being made every day! :D

    And the process sequesters carbon too! :-)
    SMA SB 3000, old BP panels.
    · Share on Twitter

Categories