SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - Breakthrough promises $1.50 per gallon synthetic gasoline

Posted: Jan 27 2011 12:29 am

Quote:

UK-based Cella Energy has developed a synthetic fuel that could lead to US$1.50 per gallon gasoline. Apart from promising a future transportation fuel with a stable price regardless of oil prices, the fuel is hydrogen based and produces no carbon emissions when burned. The technology is based on complex hydrides, and has been developed over a four year top secret program at the prestigious Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford. Early indications are that the fuel can be used in existing internal combustion engined vehicles without engine modification.

According to Stephen Voller CEO at Cella Energy, the technology was developed using advanced materials science, taking high energy materials and encapsulating them using a nanostructuring technique called coaxial electrospraying.

“We have developed new micro-beads that can be used in an existing gasoline or petrol vehicle to replace oil-based fuels,” said Voller. “Early indications are that the micro-beads can be used in existing vehicles without engine modification.”

“The materials are hydrogen-based, and so when used produce no carbon emissions at the point of use, in a similar way to electric vehicles”, said Voller.

The technology has been developed over a four-year top secret programme at the prestigious Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford, UK.

The development team is led by Professor Stephen Bennington in collaboration with scientists from University College London and Oxford University.

Professor Bennington, Chief Scientific Officer at Cella Energy said, “our technology is based on materials called complex hydrides that contain hydrogen. When encapsulated using our unique patented process, they are safer to handle than regular gasoline.”

http://current.com/http://www.gizmag.com/breakthrough-promises-150-per-gallon-synthetic-gasoline-with-no-carbon-emissions/17687/

Posted: Jan 27 2011 12:38 am

Yet we'll never see it, just like all these other fantastical breakthroughs.

Joined: Apr 09 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3112

Interesting, I wonder how far their cost analysis went, because you have to take into account things like global demand, cost of maintaining facilities, employees, etc. If they did and $1.50 will remain at that point, then this is fantastic news.

Posted: Jan 27 2011 01:33 am

sidewaydriver wrote:

Yet we'll never see it, just like all these other fantastical breakthroughs.

Perhaps, but I'm certainly hoping we do see it. Technology such as this is needed worldwide, and the sooner, the better.

If this can be safely implemented, a lower price would obviously be excellent, but the ecological impact would be positively tremendous.

Posted: Jan 27 2011 03:27 am

This sounds great, but its amazing what those big oil companies can make happen. They would lose a LOT of money if everyone switched over to this.

Posted: Jan 27 2011 07:22 am

Yeah, which is why we'll never see it. The oil companies are far too large and too cozy with the world's governments to be deposed now; they'll just counter this by saying it'll cost trillions of dollars to retrofit every gas station in the country to serve up these beads and thus, not worth it in the long run.

Unfortunately the only way to get rid of the oil companies and be allowed to switch to something else is to completely deplete the planet's oil supply which will only happen long after we've all abandoned our cars being unable to afford the huge gas prices to come.

Joined: Aug 04 2009 Posts: 2515

Atma wrote:

This sounds great, but its amazing what those big oil companies can make happen. They would lose a LOT of money if everyone switched over to this.

What's the big deal?

The big oil companies are going to go bust within the next 90 years anyway because there is going to be no oil left...

Why do people all leave this out of the equation. It's fair enough to complain about the prices of petrol (or gas) because you need it cause you drive around a lot in the US and it's expensive.

People keep forgetting it's expensive because THERE IS NO OIL.

It's not like theres people high up in their offices around a desk going

"HAHAHAHAHA WE WILL MAKE THEM PAY MORE"

You pay more because it's running out. Like think of the rarity of things, the more rare it is the more it costs.

Anyway it's good that they are thinking of alternatives though i do see a problem.

Look at how ridiculous the process of making it is. Microbeads or something did i see? Like i don't know much about the manufacturing of oil but i'm sure it's probably a lot easier than the creation of this alternative using advanced material science.

It's not like you can hire Joe Bloggs off the street to manufacture it.

EDIT:

Quote:

According to BP’s Statistical Review of World Energy (pdf), released on wednesday, we still have 1,333 million barrels out there to pump, enough for 40 years at current usage. In other words, nothing to worry about right now. According to Jeremy Leggett, BP’s chief economist literally laughed off a question about peak oil at the launch press conference.

I don't know why he's fucking laughing. The key here is 40 years AT CURRENT USAGE.

Realistically 40 years isn't alot. That's half of someones lifetime. That isn't even one generation. He also hasn't factored in population rise and how climate change and RSL will effect how accessible these sources are.

Posted: Jan 27 2011 08:48 am

Those Oil Tycoons have their hands so far into Washington's pockets, I just don't think they will let anything change until every drop is burnt up.

We've heard all kinds of solutions before. Nothing that would work with current cars, but still solutions and they never take off.

Believe me, I would LOVE for this to work, for cost and enviromental reasons.

Posted: Jan 27 2011 09:20 am

I think the problem is that we need to be phasing in alternative fuels before the oil runs out but these oil company CEOs aren't worried about what's best for the country/world over the next 90 years. Their only goal is short-term profits and increased stock prices and meeting annual budget projections. Some 50 year old Halliburton CEO doesn't give a shit if there will be a catastrophic oil shortage in 2070. He's making $400 million a year as long as he keeps his company profitable. And just a simple announcement that the US was planning to overhaul infrastructure for an eventual switch to this 'micro-bead synthetic fuel' would cost the oil companies big-time. They've got a lot of influence in Washington and they're not going to let that happen... I'm with the conspiracy theorists Smile

Not to mention the oil producing nations. They're sitting on trillions of dollars today. If there's a switch to synthetic fuel then they're sitting on shit. I'm sure they'll do what they can to prevent this too.

Posted: Jan 27 2011 09:22 am

If the oil companies spent all the money they are spending on bribing politicians on alternative energy research they could hold onto their grasp of the energy market once the oil is used up. Too bad they only care about making short term gains.

Posted: Jan 27 2011 09:26 am

Rogue Hippo wrote:

I think the problem is that we need to be phasing in alternative fuels before the oil runs out but these oil company CEOs aren't worried about what's best for the country/world over the next 90 years. Their only goal is short-term profits and increased stock prices and meeting annual budget projections. Some 50 year old Halliburton CEO doesn't give a shit if there will be a catastrophic oil shortage in 2070. He's making $400 million a year as long as he keeps his company profitable. And just a simple announcement that the US was planning to overhaul infrastructure for an eventual switch to this 'micro-bead synthetic fuel' would cost the oil companies big-time. They've got a lot of influence in Washington and they're not going to let that happen... I'm with the conspiracy theorists Smile

Not to mention the oil producing nations. They're sitting on trillions of dollars today. If there's a switch to synthetic fuel then they're sitting on shit. I'm sure they'll do what they can to prevent this too.

Actually, if the entirety of the world stopped using real oil today and switched to synthetics, the oil companies would still be raking in money hand over fist. Or do you forget that most plastics are, at least in part, petroleum based? Manufacturing uses up a great deal of oil too, so if the price of gas went down, you'd see the price of pretty much everything else you use and don't immediately throw away jacked up.

Posted: Jan 27 2011 05:42 pm

Kinda like how before John Kanzius died everyone was so optimistic about a cure for cancer. Then Cancer related organizations were looking to buy the techonology after his passing. He's from my hometown so it was pretty cool, but now I haven't heard anything in a long time.

Posted: Jan 27 2011 09:54 pm

Or the oil companies can just assassinate the guys behind this technology and make everyone forget it was ever announced.

Posted: Jan 27 2011 10:06 pm

thats probably why it was under top secret investigation