gtahvit,
My posts use yields from Costaka, Future Fuels Inc., Startech, etc. I wish Costaka et.all. had more facts on-line. Digging the data is difficult:
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switchgrass, on the best land, theoretically produces 70 gallons per ton and about 3 tons per acre per year.
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Ethanol from 'garbage' has poor yield. Typical household garbage is expected to yield 4-10 gallons per ton. Waste average is 1000 lbs. per yer per person.
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These I have found on the net. What I have never found is anyone doing the math to turn these yields into the volume of Ethanol required. I am disturbed no one else seems to be doing the mass balance.
Everytime I bring this up, the responses are things like "Grass grows everywhere..." "We produce more garbage per person than any other country..." "are you saying they should say 'the hell with it?"
What I am saying is it's a huge challenge. Ethanol has a role, but, it is not
the answer.
Today the world has two sources of energy available on a grand enough scale to satisfy our demand, fossil and nuclear.
Everything else is a drop in the ocean.
FYI. Here's an interesting forum discussion:
http://www.ecogeek.org/ including post by Wes Bolen, CMO & Vice President of Coskata.