Reply #45: Hidden inputs [View All]

[dpibel]

American agriculture is hugely dependent on oil. Oil runs the equipment, oil provides the nitrate fertilizers, oil moves the product from farm to store (or TD plant). As others have pointed out, the oil-rich parts of landfill trash (e.g. tires) are petroleum products. In order to determine whether TD is a solution or a self-consuming spiral, you have to factor in those inputs as well.

The biggest problem remains the energy cost to energy product ratio. Petroleum is so energy-dense it's going to be extremely difficult to find anything that beats it, or even comes close, in those terms. The energy cost of extracting oil is tiny compared to the energy produced by the oil.

It would be lovely if TD were the magic bullet. I think the reality is that, while it may produce more energy than its inputs, it will eventually (and fairly quickly) end up victim to diminishing returns.