Post by Psamathe on Nov 12, 2023 12:34:01 GMT
Undoubtedly the world seems to be not doing enough to avoid a climate disaster. Thus new ideas must always be welcome. But I do question this potential development
full article www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/12/floating-factories-artificial-leaves-green-fuel-jets-ships-carbon-dioxide
I have two main concerns:
1. The world will need a lot of these floating on a lot on lakes and rivers(?). And they will significantly reduce the light reaching the waters, impacting phytoplankton, etc. all having a significant impact on the wildlife and biodiversity. Only way round this might be creating large areas of shallow lagoons, created spec specifically for this process. But that takes rural land area ...
2. This. like carbon capture seems a stop gap to avoid us fixing things. We need to stop burning rather than finding short term bodges to temporarily avoid acting. We have the technology to resolve the problems we have caused; we just seem to lask the motivation to put in place those necessary changes.
That said, all credit to the researchers. Good to discover new stuff, better and more extensive understanding. Just I'm not convinced it is a solution to problems reported in the article.
Ian
Floating factories of artificial leaves could make green fuel for jets and ships
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Automated floating factories that manufacture green versions of petrol or diesel could soon be in operation thanks to pioneering work at the University of Cambridge. The revolutionary system would produce a net-zero fuel that would burn without creating fossil-derived emissions of carbon dioxide, say researchers. ...
...
Automated floating factories that manufacture green versions of petrol or diesel could soon be in operation thanks to pioneering work at the University of Cambridge. The revolutionary system would produce a net-zero fuel that would burn without creating fossil-derived emissions of carbon dioxide, say researchers. ...
I have two main concerns:
1. The world will need a lot of these floating on a lot on lakes and rivers(?). And they will significantly reduce the light reaching the waters, impacting phytoplankton, etc. all having a significant impact on the wildlife and biodiversity. Only way round this might be creating large areas of shallow lagoons, created spec specifically for this process. But that takes rural land area ...
2. This. like carbon capture seems a stop gap to avoid us fixing things. We need to stop burning rather than finding short term bodges to temporarily avoid acting. We have the technology to resolve the problems we have caused; we just seem to lask the motivation to put in place those necessary changes.
That said, all credit to the researchers. Good to discover new stuff, better and more extensive understanding. Just I'm not convinced it is a solution to problems reported in the article.
Ian