China to build its largest DME project as an alternative to oil

[jpak]

http://english.people.com.cn/200608/18/eng20060818_294272.html

China is to start construction of its largest dimethyl ether (DME) project with an annual output of three million tons to reduce rising oil consumption.

Coal-based DME is a clean-burning alternative to liquefied petroleum gas, liquid natural gas, diesel and gasoline.

Located in Ordos city of north China's energy-rich Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the project will cost 21 billion yuan (2.6 billion U.S. dollars), the Shanghai Securities News reports.

Compared with the current annual output of 120,000 tons of DME each year, the project will make a huge difference to China's alternative energy sector, said a statement from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

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[phantom power]

1. They get it, but they still don't get it.

[tinrobot]

2. Coal is still a fossil fuel

Burning it still adds to the carbon in the atmosphere. It is no better than oil.

We need to be working on sustainable and renewable energy, such as biofuels.

[jpak]

3. DME = Damaging Mother Earth

:evilgrin:

[hunter]

5. Then you'll love gasoline and diesel from coal...

That's what's coming.

[jpak]

6. Yup, it's what's coming

(but I don't love it, despite what you've heard)

[hunter]

7. DME can be made from biomass too.

Maybe more efficiently than ethanol or biodiesel, depending upon what the plant source is.

I see the establishment of a DME infrastructure as a good thing, especially because it's a less unpleasant kind of bus to be stuck behind.

[jpak]

8. Yup to that too

So is establishing a hydrogen energy infrastructure.

The fuel cells and hydrogen-burning turbine plants that are using natural gas or coke today can easily use renewable H2 in the future.

[4dsc]

9. What BS!!

No there is not going to be a hydrogen infrastructure built in the USA!!

Natural gas production PEAKED in the US and will soon PEAK worldwide!! SO that makes it a great resource to go after..

[jpak]

10. What BS!!

22 states have enacted Renewable Portfolio Standards.

Eligible technologies in many of those portfolios include utility scale hydrogen fuel cells.

http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/incentive2.cfm?Incentive_Code=CT11F&state=CT&CurrentPageID=1&RE=1&EE=0

They are already operating in Washington, Ohio, Connecticut and West Virginia...

http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wtd/fuelcell/

http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/press/2000/tl_coalmine1.html

http://www.nesea.org/publications/NESun/fuel_cells_two.html

http://www.ctcleanenergy.com/news/39.php

Connecticut has 20 projects under development (1-5 MW each).

A 475 MW hydrogen power plant is under construction in California.

There is no reason why existing US peaking/intermediate load power plants cannot use hydrogen produced from renewable sources.

Denmark is planning to use hydrogen produced from wind power to supplant natural gas for its 535 gas-fired CHP district heating plants (i.e., they have their renewable hydrogen infrastructure in place today).

This scheme will be used to buffer power output from their wind farms (i.e., hydrogen will be used as a secondary energy storage medium).

Currently US hydrogen power systems (fuel cells and gas turbines) use biogas from sewage treatment plants, coal seam methane, petroleum coke and commercial natural gas as sources of hydrogen.

There is nothing that prevents them from using hydrogen produced by electrolysis using electricity from renewable sources (when the natural gas runs out).

The propane industry already has a lot of high pressure storage tank capacity and the experience to operate a hydrogen storage and distribution systems on a national scale.

So a lot of the US hydrogen infrastructure exists or is under development.

You just need to see though the BS!! to recognize it.

[4dsc]

11. Small potatoes!!

Gee wally, I guess we have made the transition to hydrogen already, he laughed..

Well you keep praying about your little pipe dream called hydrogen.. Most experts that cover the field believe any significant hydrogen based utilization is decades away if that..

And again you're confused about hydrogen replacing any portion of oil.. All I see from your posts have to with electrically generation and peak oil will be a liquid fuel problem..

[jpak]

12. In 1902 the flying machine was a "pipe dream"

In 1910 the global aircraft industry was "small potatoes"

In 1930 television was a "pipe dream"

In 1948 television was "small potatoes"

In 1955 nuclear power was a "pipe dream"

In 1958 nuclear power was "small potatoes"

In 1959 satellite telecommunication was a "pipe dream"

In 1963 satellite telecommunication was a "small potatoes"

In 1975 wind power was a "pipe dream"

In 1980 it was "small potatoes"

So what does the "small potatoes" argument prove????

Not a #$%^& thing.

and...I'm not confused about anything - are you??????

[damntexdem]

4. Oh, dimethyl ether! I wondered how ...

durable medical equipment could be used as an alternative to oil.