article thumbnail

MIT study concludes that absent climate policy, coal-to-liquids could account for around a third of global liquid fuels by 2050

Green Car Congress

A new assessment of the viability of coal-to-liquids (CTL) technology by researchers from the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change (JPSPGC) found that without climate policy, CTL has the potential to account for around a third of global liquid fuels by 2050. Credit: Chen et al., 2011 Click to enlarge.

Coal 247
article thumbnail

MIT, Ford researchers find lightweight conventional vehicles could have lower lifecycle GHG impact than EVs depending upon location

Green Car Congress

Researchers at MIT and the Ford Motor Company have found that depending on the location, lightweight conventional vehicles could have a lower lifecycle greenhouse gas impact than electric vehicles, at least in the near term. Their paper is published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.

MIT 236
article thumbnail

MIT Report Finds Natural Gas Has Significant Potential to Displace Coal, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Role in Transportation More Limited

Green Car Congress

Natural gas will play a leading role in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions over the next several decades, largely by replacing older, inefficient coal plants with highly efficient combined-cycle gas generation, according to a major new interim report out from MIT. The first two reports dealt with nuclear power (2003) and coal (2007).

MIT 240
article thumbnail

MIT and IEA reports take different views of the future of natural gas in transportation

Green Car Congress

MIT and the IEA both have newly released reports exploring the potential for and impact of a major expansion in global usage of natural gas, given the current re-evaluation of global supplies. MIT: leaning toward conversion for light-duty vehicles. Earlier post.) I.e., on an energy basis at the point of use, the CO 2.

MIT 299
article thumbnail

U Chicago, MIT study suggests ongoing use of fossil fuels absent new carbon taxes

Green Car Congress

A paper by a team from the University of Chicago and MIT suggests that technology-driven cost reductions in fossil fuels will lead to the continued use of fossil fuels—oil, gas, and coal—unless governments pass new taxes on carbon emissions. for oil, 24% for coal, and 20% for natural gas. F of warming.

Chicago 150
article thumbnail

MIT Researchers Propose Using Solid Oxide Fuel Cells for Natural Gas Power Generation With Zero Emissions

Green Car Congress

MIT researchers are proposing a novel electricity generation process using natural gas and solid oxide fuel cells at high electrical efficiency (74%HHV) with zero atmospheric emissions. Absent any price for carbon emissions, Adams says, when it comes to generating electricity “ the cheapest fuel will always be pulverized coal. ”

MIT 170
article thumbnail

Separate MIT, IEA reports both outline major expansion in role of natural gas; caution on climate benefits

Green Car Congress

” The MIT report said that natural gas should be seen as a “ bridge ” to a low-carbon regime, rather than as the ultimate long-term solution itself. MIT: The Future of Natural Gas. Separately, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released its own report exploring the potential for a “golden age” of gas. Source: IEA.

MIT 210