BIG OIL's worst nightmare!

Actually, this brings up even more questions. What are the byproducts of burning this synthetic fuel? Can it be "mixed" with gasoline and/or ethanol to help keep the costs down at the pump? This is really rather new and that is why wee have not heard about it before. Only small models have been built. Other companies have been focused on other energy sources and while it takes CO2 that has been "captured" at power plants and factories it does not remove CO2 from the air. I think the 15 - 20 year time table is probably realistic IF less expensive fuel sources are not found and developed before that. Will politics slow it down or stop it? Who knows? A full size processing plant has not been created before? How much land will it require using the sun as a heat source? How much time is needed to produce sufficient quantities? Are there any byproducts which may or may not be hazardous? If it can be mixed with gasoline (like ethanol and it burns cleaner) big oil might actually welcome it as an "additive". If it is really meant as a "replacement" for gasoine; big oil will fight it both politicaly and through sabatoge - when they do not get their way they have "fought dirty" in the past.

With the way the big oil companies work it won't really get into service UNTIL they have no other choice. Their already sitting on several other things they bought the pattens to but refuse to put into service because it cuts into their sales. I know of a drive system developed years ago that would be very beneficial however one of the oil companies bought it's patten & it disappeared. It worked by having a combustion engine that drove a hydrolic pump that pushed the car. The engine ran at the same speed ALL the time. Whenever the car wasn't moving the engine was storing up pressure to use at start up to get the car moving ( the time when most engines lose most of their efficiency ). The breaking system was also tied into the pressure container. The act of breaking actually built up pressure to be released for acceleration as well. The whole system made a small combustion engine 1.5 times more efficient, Yet it will likely never get used until the oil is all but gone.

That would solve alot of problems in this world-we have scientists with the knowledge to reverse the combustion process but there appears to be no will-the consequences of these inactions are far reaching-it gives a lot of clout to the oil producing countries and makes oil over valued to the point that big powers find no qualms in going to war in the name of fighting terrorism while the hidden agenda behind these wars is oil imperialism

An interesting concept. Using sunlight to combine CO2 to produce hydrocarbons (and carbohydrates). Actually we already have such a device and it's been around for more years than I care to count. It also puts back spare oxygen into the atmosphere for us to breathe. Every time I put a log on the fire or take a clean sheet of paper to make notes, I remember this very useful machine and consider that it's time we planted more of them. Ethanol (which is a very clean fuel) can be made easily from plant material and some work has also been done (but not enough) on producing heavier hydrocarbons from algae , thus speeding up the process that gave us petroleum in the first place.

Hi redyellowblackdog, As suggested by other posters here, the innovative process to convert CO2 to synthetic fuels most won't likely ever get legs as long as the oil cartels are making money out of petroleum fuels. That's the way the Western economies have been set up ("hijacked" by corporate cartels, if you like). There's a heap of other eco-friendly ways to produce cheap fuel, too, and they're pretty much all in the same boat. One example is the production of butanol from fermentation (same way as ethanol is produced, basically). There's certain bugs that will produce butanol instead of ethanol when waste products are fermented, and the process has to be controlled carefully to do that, but butanol can be used as a direct replacement for gasoline without any further treatment. BUT we won't see that happening any time soon - anyone who tries might be given an offer they can't refuse, or otherwise have an "accident".

Hello redyellowblackdog, This is really an interesting idea and needs to be looked into further. I have studied alternative fuels extensively in my under graduate studies. I personally would love to see a fuel that is environment friendly, cost effective, hazardless and renewable. There are few things that concern me about this theory. One among them is the point where we will have to deal with carbon mono-oxide during the process. It has to be made sure that CO is dealt with properly and safely. One of my friends from Pakistan suggested, and actually worked on, a revolutionary approach. I am sure he won't like me to discuss details here but it is something that I have always dreamed of, totally hazardless as far as environment and safety are concerned, over efficient (yes, you read it right, over efficient), very cost effective, costing overall much less than gasoline, and above all self sufficient (renewable, almost perpetual). He have had correspondence with NASA. After initial proposal, NASA showed interest and asked him to send them some more details which he did. But, when they asked him to send his whole project, for scrutiny and extensive examination by NASA engineers, he refused saying that either he's part of it or he can't trust, giving every bit of details. I don't know what happened next because I had to come here and he went to England. Last time when I talked to him a year ago, he was hopeful that British Ministry is ready to takeup the project along with him i.e. without causing his lack of trust. I haven't heard from him since.

I wonder how many other alternative fuels have never seen the light of day throughout modern history? The massive corporations that make billions from oil coupled with the powerful lobby groups will ensure that the best interests of humanity and the earth as a whole will be secondary for a very long time to come. Politics and other "forces" will most definitely delay implementation.

I guess there are lots of science fiction stories that are now part and parcel of our current technology. I think everything is possible as scientists of today are making fast progress. I think the reverse combustion process would be great too as co2 is present almost in every busy cities anywhere in the world.

Actually the guys at the space center looked at this idea back in the 60's as a way to fuel the rockets. It was not a good way to fuel the rockets but my Dad kept looking at it as a way to fuel cars. Don't believe them when they claim that it is more expensive than oil to produce. It is cheaper. Dad tried to get them interested in it way back then but no one would back him. They just called him a quack. My Stepmother still has some of his notes. They just wont to rip us off even more. At least if they start doing this they will start growing food again instead of corn for ethanol and poor people will be able to afford to eat.

This would really change the world. Fuel from thin air would make oil a freebie. I have also read that saltwater would burn under the right condition. These are all good plans but I can't help but ponder, what would happen to countries in the Middle east who only have oil as a resource. What would they use to buy priceless water if their oil is no longer valued? I dont also think oil companies would give up that easily. They would pay the government to shut down such research just to save the goose who lays the golden egg from being slaughtered. Billions of dollars are at stake here. These people would do everything to stop this.