The first law of thermodynamics: Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Pretty straightforward. No loopholes.
So why does a press release from Los Alamos sound like it’s ignoring the first law of thermodynamics after painting the room green?
Los Alamos National Laboratory has developed a low-risk, transformational concept, called Green Freedomâ„¢, for large-scale production of carbon-neutral, sulfur-free fuels and organic chemicals from air and water.
Sounds great, doesn’t it? Carbon-neutral fuel. Wow, just what the doctor ordered.
By integrating this electrochemical process with existing technology, researchers have developed a new, practical approach to producing fuels and organic chemicals that permits continued use of existing industrial and transportation infrastructure. Fuel production is driven by carbon-neutral power.
OK, no actual mention of the electrochemical process in the PR, but elsewhere it’s given as methanol production from water and carbon dioxide.
So it must be the reverse of 2 CH3OH + 3 O2 → 2 CO2 + 4 H2O
Which is going to require energy input, because the combustion of methanol is exothermic. Ah, hence the mention of the fuel production being driven by a carbon-neutral source. Recognize that? It’s the same handwave that was happening with hydrogen a few years back. It’s not an energy source, but at least it’s green … as long as you use a green source of energy.
If we had some cake we could have cake and ice cream. If we had some ice cream.
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