Eco Global Fuels & Solar Energy
Solar power is experiencing a worldwide surge in popularity. Concerns over climate change and rising energy prices have driven billions of dollars into developing the efficiency and variety of technologies that capture energy from the sun. From new photovoltaic panels to advances in materials, manufacturing processes and solar tracking, the entire production chain is being reconfigured.
By converting a mere 2.5% of the 4,500+ quadrillion BTUs of solar radiation received annually by a 250,000-square mile area of non-arable, non-privately-owned land in the Southwestern United States into electricity, you would match the country's total electrical consumption in 2006.
In addition to having access to the most inexpensive silicone-based solar panels on the market, Eco Global Fuels knows for a fact that 100% of the aforementioned 250,000-square-mile area is suitable for the construction of solar-powered synthetic renewable fuel plants.
How would we convert solar power into fuel? By using photovoltaic solar cells as the energy input for the electrolysis of water to create hydrogen, which we then combine with atmospheric or normally vented carbon dioxide to create alcohol-based transportation fuel Solanol.
We project that the current rate of $4 per watt of solar energy will reduce to $1 per watt by 2015 or sooner (not including installation).
Current competitive Models
Listed below is a comparison of the construction costs per watt of various types of energy plants, including photovoltaic farms.
- Construction cost of a nuclear reactor = $1.6 per watt.
- Construction cost of a coal-fired plant = $1.5 per watt.
- Current construction cost photovoltaic farm = $ 5.8 per watt.
- Projected construction cost photovoltaic farm = $ 2.8 per watt
Global photovoltaic manufacturing principals guarantee an operational life span of 25 years, and while photovoltaic-generated electricity is only available for approximately 11 hours per day, the invention overcomes this time impediment by storing the sun's energy in a carbon-neutral alcohol fuel matrix to be used as fuel at night and or any other time.
The current industrial-sized power plant is 2000MW, and will be used as a guide and reference as return on investment (ROI) for each model listed below.
Cost of construction of nuclear reactor at $1.60 per watt x 2000MW = $3.2 billion
Tariff rate of 7.5 cents per kW including maintenance equates to net yield of $600 million per year
$3.2 billion = 5.3 years ROI
$600 million
Cost of construction of coal-fired plant at $1.50 per watt x 2000MW = $3 billion
Tariff rate of 7.5 cents per kW including maintenance equates to net yield of $600 million per year
$3 billion = 5 years ROI
$600 million
The current cost of a solar photovoltaic farm including installation at $5.80 per watt x 2000MW = $11.6 billion
Tariff rate of 7.5 cents per kW including maintenance equates to net yield of $550 million per year
$11.6 billion = 21 years ROI
$550 million
The 2015 projected cost of solar photovoltaic farm includes installation at $2.8 per watt x 2000MW = $5.6 billion
Tariff rate of 7.5 cents per kW including maintenance equates to net yield of $550 million per year
$5.6 billion = 10.2 years ROI
$550 million
The 2015 projected cost of a photovoltaic farm including installation with the electrolytic hydrogenation process at 2000MW is $7.4 billion
Therefore 2000MW will produce 132 million gallons of Solanol per year with 1.1 million tons per year of enviro-oxygen plus carbon credits including maintenance which equates to an annual net yield of US$968 million.
$7.4 billion = 7.5 years ROI
$968 million100 x $968 million = 13% ROI
$7.4 billion
This invention incorporates a synthetic Calvin Cycle that has been created by using recycled carbon dioxide to manufacture carbon neutral alcohol fuels. This 2000MW model will recycle atmospheric concentrated carbon dioxide to the amount of 1.02 million tons per year.
Atmospheric air at sea level in the year 1870, consisting of the following in percentages and weight:
CO2/ 0.0290gr = 0.0290%
O2/ 20.953gr = 20.953%
N2/ 78.084gr = 78.084%
Ar/ 0.934gr = 0.934%
Total/ 100gr = 100%
Atmospheric Air at sea level in the year 2008, consisting of the following in percentages and weight:
CO2/ 0.0360gr = 0.0360%
O2/ 20.946gr = 20.946%
N2/ 78. 084gr = 78.084%
Ar/ 0. 934gr = 0.934%
Total/ 100gr = 100%
Air volume per Litre @ S.T.P = 1.29gr
As calculated from the above, there has been a 0.007% reduction of oxygen in the atmosphere over the past 138 years. This amount will continue to diminish as excess carbon dioxide emission produced by fossil fuel combustion continues unabated.
What is the price comparison between solar-powered and coal-powered hydrogen production?
Our invention has overcome the usual cost constraints of producing hydrogen by researching and developing the most cost-efficient electrolysis unit in the world. Our methodology for producing the necessary DC electrical energy to manufacture vast quantities of hydroxy gas is based on power derived from photovoltaic cells or any other form of renewable energy.
The current cost of photovoltaic cells is $4 per watt, but according to our projections these costs will be reduced to $1 per watt by 2015. Although the construction costs for a photovoltaic farm and a coal-based power station are not identical, the running costs of the former come out to be much less: $0.006 per kWh compared to $0.03 per kWh. Why? Because the coal-based power station requires continual feedstock of coal as fuel to run, when compared with photovoltaic farms which run on sunlight - a free and now a renewable fuel source.
How would the cost of Solanol compare to that of gasoline?
Currently, the price of gasoline ranges from US $2.5 - $4 a gallon. In three years, Eco Global Fuels will be able to offer Solanol at US $3 a gallon. This price does not reflect the sale of oxygen produced.
How much more cost-effective is the production of Solanol than the production of corn or sugar cane ethanol?
Approximately 70% more cost-effective.
Can Solanol compete if the price of oil comes down to $2 to $2.50 a gallon? Also, do you have a formula for computing your cost of production?
Yes, because 1 gallon of Solanol plus 17lb of enviro-oxygen at a cost of $1.35 and when both commodities are sold, produce a profit of $3.5 at current fuel and commodity-oxygen prices.
Most gas stations offer three kinds of gasoline. Will Eco Global Fuels only offer one kind?
No. A variety of synthetic renewable solar alcohol fuels (under the brand name Solanol) will be integrated into the existing petroleum infrastructure.
Often this is simply added to existing fuels. We represent NO competition to the oil/ fuel industry, in fact, they need us- as governments around the world have insisted on renewable energy sources being added to fossil fuels
What is the average mileage of Solanol compared to gasoline?
For the average vehicle Solanol provides identical mileage to gasoline with a higher octane level.
Our designed mixed alcohol fuel, Solanol, will provide the best carbon neutral combustion properties with comparable range.