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permaculture - Re: [permaculture] Interesting insight on biofuels

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  • From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lfl@intrex.net>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] Interesting insight on biofuels
  • Date: Sat, 01 Jan 2005 14:53:16 -0800

Chad Knepp wrote:
Right on!

Also interesting if you haven't already read it is 'Energy in
Agriculture: Lessons from the Sunshine Farm Project' published by The
Land Institute in November 2002.
<http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/09/24/3dbeba6338ac3>

It documents a hands on study of biodiesel production. Pertinent
quote:

It will be a challenge to provide society with considerable energy
from agriculture, let alone food, since the energy returns for
various energy technologies have generally been greater than the
above ratios for mixed crop and livestock farms. Fossil fuels
usually have ratios in the range of 10-30, and solar and wind
technologies, typically 3-10, but renewable liquid or gaseous fuels
from agricultural production, mostly 5 or less [37, 38]. Solar and
wind technologies have greater power densities than energy crops and
thus require less land area [24].

To take energy cycling and renewable energy technologies plus sustainability
in agricultural
(and permaculture) systems s few steps further, I mentioned earlier:
- In flatland or similar terrain, with plenty of excavators and earthmovers
waiting in the wings,
- grow water hyacinth, kudzu and maybe elaeagnus, bamboo and other plants
(ground ivy for N cycling and
- source of fermented plant extract, in a a setting where they can be
efficiently
- harvested, and fertilize them with sewage sludge and effluent (and any
other clean, natural industrial byproduct).
- In fact have a properly sized facility of this sort
- at sewage treatment plants; generate methane for fuel to run some of the
equipment. Byproducts (which could also be made on site)
- would include paper, fuel, compost (seedless, of course) carbon
sequestration and oxygen from the plants.

Can't methane from digesters be compressed and liquified?

Back to the renaissance of the late 50's, 60's and 70's. Let's pick up where
we left off, continue what was begun in those times
and build momentum for the future.

LL
--
L.F.London
lfl@intrex.net
http://market-farming.com
http://www.ibiblio.org/ecolandtech




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