Imagine Department of Energy researchers had responded to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus’ recent twitter message on biofuels (see previous post). What would they tweet? The National Energy Technology Laboratory (@NETL_News) might have said “Get cost effective, locally produced, Sec 526 compliant fuel using CBTL: http://tllg.net/y66”
Coal to Liquids (CTL) is a fuel manufacturing process that converts coal into traditional diesel fuel. The inclusion of 8% non-food biomass-derived fuel, known as Coal and Biomass to Liquids (CBTL), is expected to make the life cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions 20% lower than oil-derived diesel fuel. This allows the government to purchase the fuel, as per Section 526 of the Energy and Security Act of 2007. NETL estimates this CBTL fuel can be cost effective when oil is $93 per barrel or more. Given the high price of oil in recent years, CBTL could potentially be a solution to DoD’s energy security, sustainability and cost (i.e., surety) concerns.
Referenced Articles and Concepts:
Affordable, Low-Carbon Diesel Fuel from Domestic Coal and Biomass: http://www.netl.doe.gov/energy-analyses/pubs/CBTL%20Final%20Report.pdf
Toward an Energy Surety Future: http://prod.sandia.gov/techlib/access-control.cgi/2005/056281.pdf
