Moving forward?
by admin on Jan.24, 2011, under Environment, nature, Society, technology
According to a recent article posted on the Globe and mail website:
In September, a privately held and highly secretive U.S. biotech company named Joule Unlimited received a patent for “a proprietary organism” – a genetically engineered cyanobacterium that produces liquid hydrocarbons: diesel fuel, jet fuel and gasoline. This breakthrough technology, the company says, will deliver renewable supplies of liquid fossil fuel almost anywhere on Earth, in essentially unlimited quantity and at an energy-cost equivalent of $30 (U.S.) a barrel of crude oil. It will deliver, the company says, “fossil fuels on demand.”
Whilst it is an obvious step forward in terms of technology and zero dependence of raw materials, agricultural land, crops (ie. ethanol) or fresh water, i’m not convinced this is a step in a positive environment-oriented direction. It is essentially (as the globe and mail suggested) liquid hydrocarbons on demand.
For the full article, go to:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/a-brave-new-world-of-fossil-fuels-on-demand/article1871149/