Posted on 08/08/2017 10:01:26 AM PDT by ckilmer
yeah I know about the kerogan and the new microwave means of melting it in situ.
The big deal is the cost of electricity.
I actually think that if utility scale solar wind prices keep falling in the next six years in the same way as they have over the last six years—that in situ microwave melting of kerogan oil shale will be profitable.
Ah yes, there’s always “something coming”.
In 1905 about 350,000 horses were required to haul in food from the NYC suburbs and feed a city of a little over 1 million. That’s when there WERE farms within 25 miles.
There are none now. There won’t be any because farms don’t generate revenue from land like rental income can.
And vegetables don’t provide 2000 calories / day btw, required for life.
But it is a feedstock for the plastics industry.
Bison Transport runs its big LNG-powered LCVs between Calgary and Edmonton, which is about 300 km or 180 mi. The range for their LCVs is about 450 miles. There are definitely some serious challenges to the efficient and effective adoption of any new technology, and especially LNG and CNG, but the expected relative price trends for natural gas and diesel will induce more companies to switch to NG over time.
Don’t want to hammer you too hard on this because people who don’t understand energy density and difficulty of distribution of LNG vs diesel are simply not going to be up to speed.
But I took a moment and looked into Bison Transport. They have 1400 tractors pulling however many trailers. Of that 1400, they bought 15 fueled with LNG.
And regretted it:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/lng-diesel-bison-shell-cnrail-2016-1.3414257
“Bison Transport purchased 15 liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks and ran them back and forth from Calgary to Edmonton. The trucking company partnered with Shell to provide fuel stations to fill up.
The motivation was obvious as the company expected to save 30 per cent on fuel costs with LNG trucks compared to diesel, and produce 30 per cent fewer emissions.
But after two years, and more than 1.5 million kilometres travelled, Bison Transport hit the brakes.
The trucks were sold and the pilot project was shelved.”
Oil is oil for a reason. That reason is not an array of evil people who conspire to destroy all alternative concepts.
Actually, it’s just 1 guy. Sir Isaac Newton.
hard working amish probably need 4000-5000 calories a day.
I sit in front a computer all day and then work out for half an hour to keep from turning to pudding. I don’t think I need more than 1500 calories a day.
here’s a couple of vertical farms in the nyc area.
http://weburbanist.com/2016/06/05/worlds-biggest-indoor-vertical-farm-near-nyc-to-use-95-less-water/
http://boweryfarming.com/press
https://www.nytimes.com/video/nyregion/100000005080478/aerofarm-vertical-newark.html
I understand energy density comparisons. The formulas are high school physics. The relevant authority for the point I was trying to make is Adam Smith, not Issac Newton. Long-term, the relative prices of NG and diesel will dictate the choice of transport technology. If diesel remains cheap enough relative to NG, it will continue to dominate. If not, you will see more CNG and LNG vehicles deployed beyond the short-haul market.
And Vedder bought all 15 Bison tractors.
An increasing number of trucks are on the road, running on natural gas.
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