Bio methane from anaerobic digestion consumes in the order of 20% of the energy produced in the conversion process. Most of this is electricity which is used or compression of the biogas to remove the non CH4 gasses, and as such can be scheduled to run on off peak electricity.

Digesters can use cellulosic grasses and waste products together and produce a nutrient rich slurry for use as a fertilizer.

Bio methane from anaerobic digestion consumes in the order of 20% of the energy produced in the conversion process. Most of this is electricity which is used or compression of the biogas to remove the non CH4 gasses, and as such can be scheduled to run on off peak electricity.

Digesters can use cellulosic grasses and waste products together and produce a nutrient rich slurry for use as a fertilizer.

“…part of Brazil’s energy independence, being the source of over 40 percent of their fuel…”

Ethanol is only contributing 16% to their transportation energy.

Source:

http://i-r-squared.blogspot.com/2009/04/more-brazilian-ethanol-whoppers.html

Cellulosic is not affordable, and will probably always be just five years away from being affordable.

Energy cane makes ethanol the same way as regular cane–feed sugars to microbes that pee ethanol, burn the bagasse to make energy for the refinery. It is only more efficient because it grows taller and has more bagasse to burn. And it can only be grown in tropical climates, and Brazil can grow a lot more than we can.

A recent study has shown that burning biomass to make electricity is a far more efficient use of land area that turning biomass into liquid fuels, regardless of type of biomass.

Source:

http://biodiversivist.blogspot.com/2009/05/electric-cars-get-81-better-miles-per.html

The commenter above was referring to this graphic:

http://home.comcast.net/~russ676/Graphics/img19.gif

You are talking about photo voltaic panels. The solar energy will be captured and stored using molten salts as shown below:

Source:

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/solar-thermal-which-technology-is-best-6091/

The comment about carbon was referring to land displacement. If you displace a food crop for fuel someone displaces a carbon sink to grow the food you displaced.It can take decades to centuries to recoup the carbon with the crop.

“…part of Brazil’s energy independence, being the source of over 40 percent of their fuel…”

Ethanol is only contributing 16% to their transportation energy.

Source:

http://i-r-squared.blogspot.com/2009/04/more-brazilian-ethanol-whoppers.html

Cellulosic is not affordable, and will probably always be just five years away from being affordable.

Energy cane makes ethanol the same way as regular cane–feed sugars to microbes that pee ethanol, burn the bagasse to make energy for the refinery. It is only more efficient because it grows taller and has more bagasse to burn. And it can only be grown in tropical climates, and Brazil can grow a lot more than we can.

A recent study has shown that burning biomass to make electricity is a far more efficient use of land area that turning biomass into liquid fuels, regardless of type of biomass.

Source:

http://biodiversivist.blogspot.com/2009/05/electric-cars-get-81-better-miles-per.html

The commenter above was referring to this graphic:

http://home.comcast.net/~russ676/Graphics/img19.gif

You are talking about photo voltaic panels. The solar energy will be captured and stored using molten salts as shown below:

Source:

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/solar-thermal-which-technology-is-best-6091/

The comment about carbon was referring to land displacement. If you displace a food crop for fuel someone displaces a carbon sink to grow the food you displaced.It can take decades to centuries to recoup the carbon with the crop.

Yes, biofuels create CO2 when burned, but it’s the same CO2 that was sucked out of the air when they were grown.

Bill,

One advantage to the biofuels is that they are their own convenient storage system that integrates right into the current infrastructure. Solar and wind require a storage system such as batteries (which have their own environmental problems and have a much lower energy/kg than biofuels).

Is your 100K-300K GGE/acre including the energy and resources required to manufacture the photovoltaics (PVs). Since PVs are so expensive, I’m assuming the price reflects an energy-intense manufacturing process as I don’t believe any of the elements are rare enough to warrant the high cost. Price-wise, PVs take ~2 decades to pay for themselves (not including tax breaks), so, energy-wise, it’s probably not too far off to assume it takes at least 10 years to break even.

Yes, biofuels create CO2 when burned, but it’s the same CO2 that was sucked out of the air when they were grown.

Bill,

One advantage to the biofuels is that they are their own convenient storage system that integrates right into the current infrastructure. Solar and wind require a storage system such as batteries (which have their own environmental problems and have a much lower energy/kg than biofuels).

Is your 100K-300K GGE/acre including the energy and resources required to manufacture the photovoltaics (PVs). Since PVs are so expensive, I’m assuming the price reflects an energy-intense manufacturing process as I don’t believe any of the elements are rare enough to warrant the high cost. Price-wise, PVs take ~2 decades to pay for themselves (not including tax breaks), so, energy-wise, it’s probably not too far off to assume it takes at least 10 years to break even.

All this depends on getting electric cars on the road ASAP.

All this depends on getting electric cars on the road ASAP.