Let the grass grow!

We often hear debates about whether bio-ethanol production is taking the food out of other peoples’ mouths.

So how about growing crops especially for bio-ethanol production, that are not intended for human consumption.  Such as grass.

The grass in this report would not only be one possible solution, but researchers claim that it produces more energy than is required to make it.  In other words, it takes less CO2 to produce the bio-ethanol than the amount that is being saved, making an overall net reduction in CO2 – aparently 94% compared to the same volume of petrol.

I wonder what people will find wrong with this solution?

Aussichtsturm Ellerhöhe

Aussichtsturm Ellerhöhe

Aussichtsturm Ellerhöhe

Hidden away on the northern side of Bad Homburg is a viewing platform called the Aussichtsturm Ellerhöhe.

It was originally built in 1873, re-built in 1889 and extended in 1901. The top of it is approximately 200m above sea level.

Although the tower itself is only about 16m tall, it does offer a view across the town of Bad Homburg to Oberursel, and even as far as Frankfurt.

In fact, many local people do not even know that it is there!

View towards Frankfurt

View towards Frankfurt

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Größere Kartenansicht

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Using bio-ethanol indirectly

ScienceNOW’s daily news reported yesterday on a study that claims that biofuels are more efficient if they are turned into electricity than used in cars.

It’s an interesting thought: if we turn the crops and wood chippings into electricity instead of bio-ethanol, and then drove electric cars, this could well have a positive change on the emissions.

Turning biofuels into electricity on a large scale could well mean that the CO2 emissions even better controlled, thus meaning less of it getting back into the atmosphere.

I wonder whether other studies will support their claims?

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