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  1. http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/04/18/climate-change-meets-high-tech/

    Excerpt….

    One solution to the fossil fuel conundrum is energy from water. Energy derived from the elements found in water has far-reaching potential. In that regard, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s Materials Science and Technology Division announced they have achieved ‘proof of concept’ for a new technology that may be a game changer.

    The new process extracts carbon dioxide and hydrogen from seawater, which are processed in a catalytic converter to transform the elements into a liquid hydrocarbon fuel with 92% efficiency. This fuel can be used to power conventional engines already in use today. The catalytic device is described as an “innovative and proprietary NRL electronic cation exchange module or “E-CEM.”

    Naval scientists demonstrated the novel concept on April 2, 2014 with a model airplane powered by fuel from seawater. “This is the first time technology of this nature has been demonstrated with the potential for transition, from the laboratory, to full-scale commercial implementation,” according to Naval research chemist Heather Willauer, Scale Model WWII Craft Takes Flight With Fuel From the Sea Concept, America’s Navy, Naval Research Laboratory Public Affairs, Story No. NNS14040704, Release Date: 4/7/2014.

    Looking ahead into the future, the Navy predicts seawater fuel will cost $3-6 per gallon, and it could be available on a commercial scale within 10 years.

  2. Any information on the energy density? If it is similar to gasoline, the price of this seawater fuel is $1000 – $2000 per tonne. Excellent price to keep nuclear propulsion economical for ships.

    1. Don’t know any more than you do. Probably less. Just found the article kinda interesting. I emailed the author, in the hopes he might join with any comments.

    2. The fuel created it JP5 as far as I know. There are papers from the Navy floating around online with all of the calculations. Right now carriers have unlimited propulsion fuel and food for months, but have to get more jet fuel for their aircraft very frequently (I believe less than 1 week). If they can make their own, they cut off that entire, expensive supply chain and the corresponding weakness it introduces in wartime.

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