Whatever happened to...
 

Algae for fuel, for instance. It was all the rage for a while there. :confused:

Corn has more lobbyists.

Reality crept in.

There is a college that still makes it out west off coal fired exhaust.

Non $4 gas sorta put the damper on it, oil companies own all the patents so expect it to come out if we run shortages

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.col...493dd.amp.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...1213115453.htm


We are in the maybe tomorrow mode

It is still out there on the research level. However, diesel is too cheap for it to be commercially viable.

algae
 

There appears to be a reluctant,however shifting awareness that,electrification of much of industry offers such available 'thermal' efficiencies,that liquid fuels of all stripes will simply be unable to compete,and would be a failed business model to pursue.Folly.
If capitalism reflects the best thinking,and Wall St. values Tesla Motors above GM and Ford combined,or Volkswagen Group en toto,etc.,then it appears that the smartest guys in the room are staring straight into the face of all 'fuels' as an eclipsed,superannuated technology (industry),heading for the dustbin of history.

I don't see electric being able to fly a plane to a different part of the world any time soon.

Balloon slowly floating off wind power?

3 week flights in only one direction?

soon
 

You wouldn't have been able to go to a gas station anytime soon in 1909 either.The short-term strategy for commercial aviation is bio-fuel,and net-zero carbon.
Inverting the question leaves us with the bigger issue: does anyone really need to fly? Covid-19 ought to have the world asking that one.

Since most companies only give employees 1 to 3 weeks off per year, yeah you kind of need air travel.
The government can't tax home made fuel, so that was never a long term option.
Also in 1909 it was just about the height of the coal fired steam engine age, using coal gas for lighting, coal for heat, ect. Oil and natural gas was about to become the clean alternative.