New type of coal. Maybe it doesn't take millions of years!

Thought this was quite interesting.

http://www.thelocal.de/sci-tech/2013010 ... P1Y82fxmC9

I attended a power generation trade show a few years back in Baltimore where a similar product was being pitched. They proposed building a processing plant near the power plant and would grow, harvest and process region appropriate plants to turn into "coal". They had small sample cups there and I went by the booth about 5 times to get a sample cup!

I brought it home and put my small sample on the grates to see if it burned a different color or smoked. I didn't see any difference, but my 5 samples added up to less than a coffee cup so it was probably overwhelmed by the volume of anthracite already burning there.

I wonder how the "pressure cooker" is fueled to make this stuff probably takes more energy to make it then it will give us back in the end?

dcrane wrote:I wonder how the "pressure cooker" is fueled to make this stuff

I was wondering what kind of energy balance this process has, as well. Another issue is transporting the raw materials to the processing facility. For example, if they bring in a tri-axle load of shredded leaves, what is the BTU value of the leaves, vs the BTUs consumed for transport.....

It doesn't matter how much energy it takes to produce it as long as the end product is labeled "GREEN". Because, if it's "GREEN" it's got to be good for the environment and the sheep will gobble it right up.

Just like having cars that run on "compressed natural gas" it's a "GREEN" fuel never mind the amount of energy it takes to extract/process it and don't forget all of the chemicals used in the extraction process what with the hydraulic fracking and what-not. But it's OK, because it's "GREEN".