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It is possible, the search keywords are "synthetic fuels" or "e-fuels" ("electro-fuels). Currently it's a lot more expensive than fossil fuel, which is why it's
by jabl 4y ago
It is possible, the search keywords are "synthetic fuels" or "e-fuels" ("electro-fuels). Currently it's a lot more expensive than fossil fuel, which is why it's mostly a research project and not a large-scale commercial business.
One problem is that while you can get an unlimited amount of hydrogen via electrolysis of water, you have to get the carbon from somewhere to produce hydrocarbons. There is a lot of CO2 in the atmosphere, but it's still a pretty low concentration so it takes a lot of energy to filter it out. And yes, using factory exhaust etc. is an easier option, but if we're gonna solve climate change most CO2 exhaust sources have to be replaced at some point so that might not be a very long term plan.
- FooBarWidget 4y agoIs CO2 capturing the biggest problem that prevents it from being cost-effective?
- mcnugget 4y agoEnergy input is the other. It takes at minimum the combustion energy to reconfigure the molecules but most of the processes happen at high temperature and pressures which takes energy to do.
- FooBarWidget 4y agoI understand input is an issue, but why aren't renewables cheap enough to solve the energy input part of the problem? Don't solar panels cost next to nothing nowadays? How much must renewables decrease in cost in order for such fuels to be economically competitive?