We already had that. It’s called algae.
Comment on Researchers turn sunlight and CO2 into living biomass
Sibbo@sopuli.xyz 3 weeks ago
I get the tree jokes, but I think the idea here is that the output is in an easily-processsble form such that you just pipe it into a bioreactor or refinery and make ethanol or some fossil-fuel replacement.
And I guess these could be deployed on the ocean?
harambe69@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
Hirom@beehaw.org 3 weeks ago
Why produce ethanol?
Producing and burning ethanol in internal combustion engines is more polluting, less efficient than using electric vehicles. So this can’t be it.
Producing and burning ethanol for heat is more polluting, less efficient than heat pumps or solar thermal energy. So that’s not it either.
The article mention chemical industry and:
This leaves fertilizers and plastics. So this would have to compete with other ways to produce fertilizers, plastic and plastic alternatives (cardboard packaging, wood, glass…)
Sibbo@sopuli.xyz 3 weeks ago
I didn’t think deeply about this. At least airplanes are still most efficient with kerosine-like fuel. But making plastics would be super important, because it’s such a powerful material.