William "Chops" Westfield <westfw <at> mac.com> writes:
 
> On Jan 7, 2007, at 2:31 AM, Peter P. wrote:
> 
> > Obviously the production of a biofuel
> > would strive to use NO fossil energy.
> 
> Sure, but part of the attraction is the existing infrastructure for
> alcohol production (for example.)  All of which runs on fossil fuels.
> If things work out well, THEN you can look at ways of making dedicated
> production lines that use alternate energy sources to produce the
> alternate fuels.  But right now it "isn't economical" (sound familiar?)

Ahh, there is a hen and there is an egg, but we don't know which is which ?
F.ex. I was thinking about a conventional power station's cooling water being
used to run vacuum alcohol distillation. Energy cost is essentially zero and the
temperature is exactly right. And there is a *LOT* of that kind of power being
tossed out. Power stations are only 40-50% efficient. I wonder if it is this
kind of 'fossil fuel' the powers that be took into calculation when they decided
that alcohol production is 'not economical' ? <g>

Peter


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