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Comment by strainer | Hacker News Reader

It can be very useful for energy storage and keeping existing combustion plant usable. But the op does not seem to bear in mind the fact that it requires more energy input than it outputs in the form of a carbon neutral fuel, or that renewable technologies have by this date clearly demonstrated affordable solutions to carbon neutral power generation.

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When I read about these schemes to produce gasoline from CO2 and water or whatever I can't help but think someone needs a couple of semesters of thermodynamics beat into them.

Nobody thinks they'll get net energy out of this. They're spending energy to make carbon-neutral liquid fuels. The energy would have to come from renewables or nuclear for this to be useful.

The energy return on energy invested is going to be abysmal.

No more than 20% if that. That translates into synth gasoline at $30/gallon

Considering electric planes aren't feasible yet, how else do you plan to decarbonize airplanes?

Short range electric planes are being manufactured presently.

This wont be able to decarbonize anything until surplus carbon free energy is generated for it use - that need not take decades with proper governmental policies, but it means this technology will not lead the way.

Replace, as far as practicable, with fast trains and maybe Hyperloops.

How do you figure?

Estimate the cost of the energy inputs per gallon of gasoline. Account for the inefficiency and you get $15-20/gal.

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