Natural Gas Alternatives from Waste Coal
They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and many inventions have resulted out of necessity. As the fuel crisis has become more expensive and more frustrating that is what has happened.
There has been extensive research into coal as an alternative to various fuel sources. Coal can be treated in various ways, including liquefaction, to create different types of fuel.
Recently, there have been developments involving waste coal that will factor into the fuel crisis and the search for alternative sources of fuel, especially in an effort to replace natural gas.
To determine the feasibility of creating an alternative fuel from waste coal, two companies have joined forces to research the possibilities. One company, Synthesis Energy Systems, builds gasification plants and the other, is the largest producer of coal in the United States.
Together they will use coal that would otherwise end up in landfills to produce methanol, ethanol, mixed alcohol, ammonia and SNG. The gasification process used, called “U-Gas” would create fuel alternatives and alternatives to higher priced natural gas without creating emissions and pollution that other processes create.
The U-Gas system is normally used to create synthesis gas, also called syngas. Syngas is a mixture of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen, and has half the density of natural gas. Since it is made with waste coal an has little or no emissions, it creates a win-win situation for the environment.
The processes being used for this venture have been under development for nearly thirty years, however, the benefit will be that instead of ending up in landfills, 20 million tons of waste coal might now be able to be turned into usable, affordable fuel, helping the economy, the environment and the fuel crisis all at the same time.
Is Nuclear Energy Part of the Solution?
For decades there has been an ongoing debate as to whether nuclear energy is a viable alternative to other forms of energy. With the advent of nuclear power plants came concerns – some justifiable – about accidents and other issues that could harm people and the environment, especially those near the power plants themselves.
Then there were accidents in places around the globe – including the United States – and the fear that came along with the accidents, as well as the myths that were perpetrated as a result.
As our fuel and energy sources have waxed and waned over the years the debate about nuclear power has continued. With the fuel crisis in full bore, we are hearing more and more about alternative forms of energy these days.
Natural gas has been touted as one form of energy that can be used to replace oil that is so scarce and so expensive. The problem with that is that the United States gathers much of its natural gas from Canada, and Canada has put the U.S. on notice that there is little natural gas that they can spare due to having to tap into their own reserves to keep their industries moving forward. In addition,
there have also been huge price hikes in the cost of natural gas, making it ineffective to use in many businesses.
Natural gas has been used to replace electricity but this drove the prices up and has caused over a million jobs to be cut in order to keep up. The cost of natural gas has risen 93% just since last August. In addition, natural gas is a finite resource. North America – particularly the United States – has not been increasing its natural gas production, and with Canada having said that it cannot spare much, if any, of its natural gas, the United States needs to come up with a new commodity – fast.
This is where nuclear energy may or may not come in. Researchers suggest that nuclear energy would be a good source of energy for electricity, while using other types of energy for other needs. There is debate about how this would work and whether this would work.
Regardless of what the result may be, it is clear that we need to look into all types of energy – including nuclear energy – in trying to address and solve the fuel and energy crisis before it is too late.
Alternatives to OPEC Offered
T. Boone Pickens, longtime oil man and entrepreneur unveiled his proposed energy plan two days ago. With Congressmen such as Joseph Lieberman supporting him, Pickens stated that it was essential and critical that the United States break away from the stranglehold that dependence on foreign oil has on the country.
Pickens stated that if the United States does not create change immediately, the country will be getting 80% of its oil from countries who hate us. As it is, the U.S. is getting over 40% of its oil from foreign countries, and many of those countries find it in their best interests to keep prices high and quantities under strict control so they can control both the fuel – and indirectly, the economy – of the United States and other “western” countries.
Pickens has suggested a plan that includes using wind power for electricity and possibly using natural gas for transportation. He would also entertain drilling in the Alaskan and Arctic wilderness. All of this would be in an effort to drastically reduce U.S. dependence upon foreign controlled oil.
Opponents of the plan feel that natural gas is not a workable solution for many reasons, the main one being that Russia and other countries who are not United States supporters control the lion’s share of the world’s natural gas and, as a result, the U.S. could very well be trading dependence upon one type of foreign controlled fuel for another type of foreign controlled fuel, which could lead to a similar crisis in the near future.
Regardless of what path is taken or what combination of steps can be used, most people are in agreement with Pickens that something needs to be done now to reverse this country’s dependence on foreign oil.
Pickens’ plan may be right for the country or it may need some changes. Those ideas can be and will be hashed out over the coming weeks and months. The main point, however, which can be agreed upon by most of us who are tired of being held hostage to foreign oil companies, is that we need a solution to this problem and we need to act now.
What Fuel Will We Run Out of Next?
With the fuel crisis looming large and causing problems and disruptions in families, businesses and industries around the world, there are many questions floating in the air. Many questions are being asked about whether we will be able to turn the situation around.
Some experts say that it can turn around, but it will take a few years. Others say that things can be better, but not totally turned around without an infusion of money, drilling and more. Still other experts say that the situation can be turned around only if we approach things in a totally different way, not looking to fossil fuels to save us, but looking for viable, effective and efficient alternatives that are environmentally friendly, affordable and will actually work.
As if we don’t have enough to think of and deal with, the question has repeatedly been raised about what might happen to natural gas. Yet more experts are talking about types of alternative fuels, with the main possibilities being natural gas, coal and nuclear energy. As with anything in life, each of these energy sources has a number of advantages along with some problems.
Environmentalists and conservationists are encouraging as much solar and wind power as possible, however, it would take more of those types of power than is possible from those sources to be able to supply the massive amounts of power needed to maintain power demand of cities, counties, states and the majority of the country.
So what is the problem and the worry with natural gas? It would actually be an ideal fuel for many situations, except for the fact that it is also non-renewable, meaning that once it is gone, it is gone. The great part about natural gas is that it is versatile and it is used in making everything from plastics and chemicals to fertilizers, and even to manufacturer and process hydrogen – a fuel source that many countries are looking at as an alternative to gasoline.
Natural gas burns cleaner than fossil fuels, however, it is hard to transport and extremely explosive – often responsible for catastrophic explosions that took days, weeks or months to contain. One more point in favor of using natural gas is that 95% of the natural gas that the U.S. uses is gathered from right here in the U.S. One of the problems, as mentioned earlier, is that natural gas will eventually run out, most likely sooner than we think (just as this fuel crisis has shown), and we need to find a fuel that will be sustainable and renewable.
There are sill many questions to be asked and ideas to be explored to solve the fuel crisis for the long term. In the meantime, we can all do our part to conserve the fuel that we do have now and deal with sensible alternatives today and for the future.
Energy Bills Rising Due to Fuel Crisis
With the fuel crisis in full gear, we are all being hit one way or the other. We are also doing everything to conserve fuel and keep our expenses down as best we can.
Aside from not being able to control the cost of gasoline at the pump or groceries at the market (which are higher prices due to fuel costs for truck drivers that deliver them to the market place), we are now at the mercy of energy companies when it comes to heating and cooling our homes, as well as cooking, having hot water, doing laundry and dishes, and just cleaning in general.
Natural gas prices have risen over 120% in many areas just since last year. In Mississippi, electric prices have risen 28% during the past year. Residents are paying an average of around $1 per day extra due to the increase.
Companies are looking for ways to operate as efficiently as possible and many companies are looking for alternatives to traditional fuels. Unfortunately, converting to alternative types of fuel takes time and money to initiate.
We have been warned over and over for quite some time that we could not continue on the path we were on without ending up with a fuel crisis. We were told that there should be research and implementation of alternatives. We have been told for decades. Those of us who remember the long lines and the rationing of gasoline during the 70’s know how uncomfortable things can get. In fact, at this time, things could actually get worse because it is a much different world than it was back then.
That is little comfort for those of us feeling the crunch. It is critical that Congress put aside their differences and work together to bring relief to average Americans. The people that are being hit hardest are the ones who can’t afford it. People are losing jobs – either because of layoffs or because they can’t afford the gas to get to work.
It is time to look at the situation and come up with a long-term solution to the fuel crisis. Americans are doing their part as best they can. It is time for Congress to collaborate with average, every day Americans to find a solution to the fuel crisis, which will help bring relief to the American people and to the economy as well.