rmcginnis

11 ms·

1. 91.▲
   by rmcginnis 7y ago

   If we replace fossil gasoline with renewable gasoline, that reduces CO2 emissions. Our gasoline will be zero carbon, and may actually be certified as slightly negative, as we will not be emitting CO2 from drilling and refining as fossil fue
2. 92.▲
   by rmcginnis 7y ago

   We expect a long lifetime (approx. 20 years or more), assuming modest maintenance costs. The capital is actually pretty inexpensive for a room temperature, unpressurized, electricity only system, so this helps mitigate longevity risks.
3. 93.▲
   by rmcginnis 7y ago

   You could make a lot of stuff from the CO2 in the Martian atmosphere, for sure!
4. 94.▲
   by rmcginnis 7y ago

   We expect a gallon of gasoline to require approx. 60 kWh of electrical energy. If the price of that electricity is below 5 cents, the economics work. If the price is lower, the efficiency of the conversion could also be lower if that optimi
5. 95.▲
   by rmcginnis 7y ago

   There is no waste. The only inputs are water, CO2, and electricity. The only outputs are fuel and oxygen.
6. 96.▲
   by rmcginnis 7y ago

   Thanks!
7. 97.▲
   by rmcginnis 7y ago

   There is a good chance we will make jet fuel in the next 2-3 years. There appears to be a lot of demand for it. We're starting with gasoline because it's a much bigger market / impact, but it's not that hard to make jet
8. 98.▲
   by rmcginnis 7y ago

   First question - each ton of CO2 captured is equivalent to approx. 113 gallons of renewable gasoline. If we replace all fossil gasoline in the US, for example, that's approx. 140 billion gallons, equivalent to approx. 1.2 Gigatons of C
9. 99.▲
   by rmcginnis 7y ago

   If we want to stay below 2 degrees C in warming, we don't have time to replace the existing vehicle fleet (approx. 1.2 billion cars, trucks, buses, etc) with electric vehicles. If we instead replace the fuel, this can be fast enough. E
10. 100.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    It will take approx. 60 kWh/gallon of fuel, or just under 16 kWh/Liter. As long as this electricity is from zero carbon sources and is inexpensive enough, it works. Distillation and other thermal processes typically need to burn f
11. 101.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    Some of the companies that do upgrading include Vertimass, Gevo, Swedish Biofuels, for example, and there are some methods that are not under patent protection that anyone can use. Basically a catalyst that dehydrates the alcohols and oligo
12. 102.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    The best location is one that gives us access to the lowest electricity price. The CO2 and water are in air almost everywhere (in a desert environment the water is harder to get from the air, but CO2 is evenly distributed). We will be next
13. 103.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    The main advantage of renewable gasoline over batteries is that we can decarbonize the existing vehicle fleet without replacing it. Also, the very high energy density of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel will make sense for a long time in Jet
14. 104.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    Yes indeed.
15. 105.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    Thanks!
16. 106.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    Thanks! We are also going to make carbon negative building materials to remove CO2 that has already been emitted. Really anything now made from petroleum is potentially replaceable with air mined CO2 and renewable electricity. Will start wi
17. 107.▲
    Launch HN: Prometheus (YC W19) – Remove CO2 from Air and Turn It into Gasoline

    1250 points by rmcginnis 7y ago|565 comments
18. 108.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    Hi, this is Rob, Founder of Prometheus. There is more info on the podcast that accompanied the print piece here: https://megaphone.link/BLM3585271197 I'm also working on a HN launch summary that will fill in more detai
19. 109.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    Thanks! Working on answering questions now. (Rob)
20. 110.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    Point sources won't scale to the size of the problem. Easier initially, but to replace fossil fuels for transportation and heating, will need to get the CO2 from the air.
21. 111.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    Agreed!
22. 112.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    Hi, this is Rob, founder of Prometheus. The conversion of CO2 and water to gasoline is not a super efficient process, likely 50-60% at best in the near term, but that's ok, if the electricity is from a zero carbon source like solar or
23. 113.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    We use zero carbon solar and wind electricity. As long as the electricity source is zero carbon and low cost, it makes economic and practical sense to make zero carbon fuel.
24. 114.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    Hi, Rob from Prometheus here! Most of the skepticism about CO2 removal from the air is focused on "carbon sequestration and storage" or CSS, which is mitigation of emissions from fossil fuel by putting CO2 into the ground, for exa
25. 115.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    Hi Graycat, it actually may be easier to make fuel by mining air. We used to make fertilizer by mining guano and collecting animal droppings, but once Haber and Bosch figured out how to make ammonia from atmospheric N2, it just make more ec
26. 116.▲
    by rmcginnis 7y ago

    Hi HN! I'm Rob, founder of Prometheus. Just saw this, catching up now and will try to answer any questions.
27. 117.▲
    by rmcginnis 8y ago

    Hi! Rob here (founder). $3 is the break even retail price we estimate for when we start selling next year.