Methane energy source

Some petroleum geologists believe that there may be more methane trapped in hydrates than what is associated with natural gas reserves. However, as an energy source, there is considerable uncertainty whether this methane can ever be recovered safely, economically, and with minimal environmental impact. The Russians have experimented with the use of antifreeze to break down hydrates at some onshore locations in Siberia. But perhaps a more promising approach would be to pipe warm surface water to the bottom to melt the hydrates, with a collector positioned to convey the gas to the surface. Another approach might be to free methane by somehow reducing the pressure on the methane hydrates. 

Regardless of the "harvesting" method, before these vast methane hydrate reserves can become a viable energy source, ways must be found to minimize the impact to the ocean floor and ocean-bottom ecosystems, and to limit the amount of methane escaping into the atmosphere. 

In the United States, methane is a major energy source used in many homes for cooking and heating of water and indoor air and water. It is commonly known that some power plants and industries use natural gas as a source of energy for generation of electricity and process heat and that this methane is a fossil fuel obtained from gas wells and transmitted throughout the country by gas pipelines. Most people also know that methane bubbles up from polluted swamps where sedimented plant matter is undergoing decomposition. Because of odors from swamps, and the odor due to natural gas additives, methane is incorrectly considered malodorous. 

Methanogenic bacteria (archaea) Produce methane as an energy source (or utilise it as a carbon source later)... 

Steam Methane Reforming Using Alternative Energy Sources... 

Lee, S.-Y, Holder, G.D. 2001. Methane hydrates potential as a future energy source. Fuel Proc Technol 71 181-186. 

Alternative fuels can be used to power a fuel cell such as hydrogen, methane, natural gas, methanol, ethanol, liquehed petroleum gas and landfill gas, which can be produced from renewable energy sources such as biomass and wind. 

A second workshop, Catalysis for Sustainable Energy Production , was held in Sesto Fiorentino (Florence, Italy) from 29 November to 1 December 2006. The structure and approach of this workshop were similar to those of the first, but the focus was on (i) fuel cells, (ii) hydrogen and methane storage and (iii) H2 production from old to new processes, including those using renewable energy sources. The present book is based on this second workshop and reports a series of invited contributions which provide both the state-of-the-art and frontier research in the field. Many contributions are from industry, but authors were also asked to focus their description on the identification of priority topics and problems. The active discussions during the workshop are reflected in the various chapters of this book. 

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