Good for nothing DOE accidentally makes ethanol from CO2 + H2O

[12,000 RPM]

https://www.ornl.gov/news/nano-spike-catalysts-convert-carbon-dioxide-directly-ethanol

(Near) Zero carbon ethanol... whoda thunkit

And it looks like it's industrially scalable. Best part is the catalyst is made from copper and carbon

[CaminoRacer]

Whoa, this could be huge.

[MrH]

Sounds like this is energy intensive.  It's not a new fuel source, but rather a means to store energy.

[giant_mtb]

Sweet. Open up the copper mines up here again! 

[CaminoRacer]

Sounds like this is energy intensive.  It's not a new fuel source, but rather a means to store energy.

If it's scalable, it could make renewable energy more viable. Put tons of solar panels in the desert, turn solar into ethanol, use ethanol as fuel across the country.

[RomanChariot]

It definitely sounds intriguing. If it can be successfully scaled up their could be a myriad of applications that could reduce CO2 pollution and help extend our energy resources at the same time.

[AutobahnSHO]

wonder how much power it takes, and how much heat is produced

[12,000 RPM]

wonder how much power it takes, and how much heat is produced

These are all manageable attributes

For example, put a plant like this in some Cali desert, use the waste heat for desalination, yay no more water crisis

Also could be emissions controls for regular powerplants.... could make coal viable again

Etc.

There's a lot of potential here, even if it's energy intensive. It doesn't even have to be zero emissions.... just better than fracking/drilling/corn farming.

[r0tor]

Power plants are already covered if anyone actually wanted to pay up to save the planet... The developed algae beds probably 10 years ago that rips out CO2 from the exhaust and turn it into synthetic quality no sulphur diesel fuel.

Energy intensive really isn't an issue... In Germany there is so much extra solar energy that they actually have plants that turn on to scrub off extra electrical load by sucking CO2 out of the air and turning it into a compressed industrial gas

[AutobahnSHO]

Power plants are already covered if anyone actually wanted to pay up to save the planet... The developed algae beds probably 10 years ago that rips out CO2 from the exhaust and turn it into synthetic quality no sulphur diesel fuel.

Energy intensive really isn't an issue... In Germany there is so much extra solar energy that they actually have plants that turn on to scrub off extra electrical load by sucking CO2 out of the air and turning it into a compressed industrial gas

That's because they're stingey. They won't use lights during daylight hours or run a/c.  In a hospital, for example.