Ethanol's usefulness as a fossil fuel replacement could soon be expanded to substituting for natural gas. LLP Combustion  has developed technology for gasifying ethanol so that it can be used in natural gas turbines. The company received a patent for a combustion system that "produced virtually no net carbon dioxide emissions," and emits similar amounts of "nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter"
as natural gas.

Converting ethanol into a synthetic natural gas enables electric power plants to switch to a renewable fuel without changing equipment, according to the company. LLP Combustion has several patents for its technology.

This development could be significant for energy companies looking to meet state RPS requirements using existing power generation and avoiding having to purchase wind or solar power generate it themselves. Since there's high demand for corn-based ethanol as a transportation fuel, the power industry will likely have to wait until cellulosic ethanol because more widely available.

Speaking of transportation, an engine maker says it has developed a flexible turbine for large trucks that can use any flex fuel, including natural gas, ethanol, and diesel. The Turbine Truck Engines Detonation Cycle Gas Turbine engine "significantly reduces nitrogen oxide (NO, NO2, N2O2) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions," according to te company. It has no pistons or values, and uses 30 percent less fuel.

The technology could shake up the heavy truck industry by expanding the refueling options. Perhaps the technology could be scalable to smaller transportation vehicles.

(Image courtesy of Christian Kuhna, Wikimedia commons)