Technologies to transform coal to liquid fuels have been around for a long time. Necessity was the mother of invention, as the Fischer-Tropsch process for coal to liquids was developed by German scientists to power the war machine of the 1940s. Now from Italy come reports of new processes which can make liquid fuels from coal-based synthetic gas with a higher yield, less energy inputs and measurably less carbon dioxide emissions. Given the requirements for lifecyle analysis of alternative fuels that the US Environmental Protection Agency is getting ready to release and the new Renewable Fuels Standard regulations due, the timing is very fortuitous. With coal reserves around the world at levels some 25 percent higher than crude oil, supporters could say that coal's time hasn't passed, it's yet to come.

ScienceDaily; October 21, 2008

Sumbitted by R. Campbell