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This is an important point. Not for the "we'll build a gas station on mars"-scenario, but for the "we'll propose this as a climate solution". Every way of repl
by hannob 5y ago
This is an important point. Not for the "we'll build a gas station on mars"-scenario, but for the "we'll propose this as a climate solution".
Every way of replacing natural gas with some other source of methane - be it the sabatier process or biogas/biomethane - has this problem. It can only be a climate solution if you can bring leaks down close to zero, which is very challenging.
It also makes one wonder whether e-methane is really such a good idea or whether you'd rather look at other chemicals like ammonia or methanol.
- throwawayboise 5y agoMethane is produced naturally in vast quantities by decaying organic matter, cow farts, released from volcanoes, natural reservoirs, etc. I doubt that some small leaks in an industrial process would make a real difference. It would probably be undetectable in comparison to the leaks in our current natural gas infrastructure that we use for heating homes, cooking, and electrical generation.
- bialpio 5y agoThis may very well be the case that it's a non-issue, but an article that only mentions the good parts without even acknowledging potential problems with the solution makes me think "what else did they not mention that a lay-person like me wouldn't know about?".
- henearkr 5y agoNo, these leaks are of serious concern. This was one of the reasons behind the recent scandal where "blue hydrogen" had been found to be very dirty.