Peru runs breakthrough gas train

[Judi Lynn]

Peru runs breakthrough gas train
Friday, June 17, 2005 Posted: 10:49 AM EDT (1449 GMT)


LIMA, Peru -- Peru has unveiled the world's first train powered by environmentally friendly compressed natural gas (CNG).

The cargo and passenger train, which runs along the world's highest railway at 16,076 feet above sea level in Peru's central Andes, will switch from diesel to run on two engines designed by General Electric Co., said Juan de Dios Olaechea, president of the Ferrocarril Central Andino.

"With this technological development, Peru is taking a big step forward in terms of its energy independence," De Dios Olaechea told an inauguration ceremony.

Ferrocarril Central Andino, 82 percent owned by Peruvian capital and 18 percent owned by U.S.-based Rail Road Development Corp., has operated the train since 1999 between Lima and the central Huancayo region.

Taking advantage of the Andean nation's huge Camisea gas reserves, the company plans to convert all eight engines in its fleet to CNG from diesel in the next seven months.
(snip/...)

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/06/17/peru.train.reut/index.html

[BlueEyedSon]

1. There is no "environmentally friendly" fossil fuel (CO2 emissions).

[Dogmudgeon]

3. However, it is a big improvement

And methane, which is what natural gas is, is not strictly a fossil fuel (though it is a powerful greenhouse gas).

Peru is not a big concern. It's the USA that I worry about.

--p!

[BlueEyedSon]

4. If the methane is from recently grown biomass the whole process

is C02 neutral, right?

So yeah I agree, but i bet it's fossil.

[Dogmudgeon]

6. You're right about the source

The CNG being used is "fossil" fuel, but carbon release isn't limited to petrochemical-source fuels. Any fuel with combustible hydrocarbons will be a carbon pollutant source (generally CO2).

Biomass-source methane would be a good post-petroleum fuel source for Peru, which is a smallish country that is not as industrialized as the USA, Europe, or even Brasil. (My sister-in-law is from Peru, and she described it -- affectionately -- as five small, modern cities set in the Paleolithic era.) Natural gas engines can use petrochemical natural gas now, and biomass natural gas later on. Peruvian industry isn't that big, but the need for transport in the mountains is great, and the amount of pollution released by the engines is reasonable.

Using methane gas in the USA would be eco-friendly depending on the size and location of the industry. Small-scale methane use on farms and homes away from the cities would not pose much of a carbon load at all, since vegetation and active farmland is a collective carbon sink. But if US inudstry decided to go all-methane, the release would be horrendous and contribute to global warming like other petroleum products do today.

That's pretty much the story on "carbon". When you look at the problem on a world-wide basis, we're screwed. On the other hand, putting some human energy into the problem can turn that around. THAT'S the critical energy crisis!

--p!

[Toots]

5. Hmmm don't human beings fall into that catagory as well

At least they don't produce carbon monoxide and raw carbon particles.

[brystheguy]

2. and natural gas will always be available . . .

Oh, wait. Never mind..

[mitchtv]

7. I've been on that run

it is a wonder of engineering. It is a switchbck going over the continental divide. I am glad to see it iskeeping up.