An interesting story at WorldWatch on China's investment of about $100 million US in developing methane gas hydrate, or "combustible ice" as an energy source. There are concerns about the unstable nature of the product and what the possible pollution from high methane content. I hadn't heard anything about this technology before, so maybe someone could fill us in here in the comments section. More here:
Though China's combustible ice reserves are large, experts believe that production of the resource will only be commercially viable in the wake of further technical breakthroughs. Chen Guangjin, a professor at the China University of Petroleum, told Market News that the current cost of the ice is as high as $200 per cubic meter. With the energy released by each cubic meter of combustible ice equal to roughly 180 cubic meters of natural gas, the cost would be equivalent to more than $1 per cubic meter of natural gas. This far exceeds China's current cost of natural gas production of $0.125 per cubic meter.
Significant environmental concerns also loom. Combustible ice's content of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, is as high as 80-99.9 percent. Although it leaves little residue after burning, the ice is difficult to extract and transport due to its unstable nature and location in seabeds. Inappropriate extraction methods could release the methane contained in the hydrates into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming. Scientists also warn that undersea exploration could induce geological disasters such as tsunamis and coastal landslides, wreaking havoc on neighboring areas.
In other pollution/climate change news:
*United States, India Cooperating To Cut Vehicular Air Pollution.
*From South Africa: Sustainability, Global Warming, Environment, et al.
*Africa Said Most at Risk to Ill-Regulated Toxics.
*Katrina dwarfed by regional climate impact say top aid and environment groups.
*Triage for an Ailing Planet.
*And lastly, traveling across the Energy Security Paradigm in the Caribbean.
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