A Quest to Make Gasoline Out of Thin Air: Prometheus (YC W19)
OK, I was curious so just did some math.<p>Gasoline has energy density of 34.2 MJ&#x2F;L, or 9.5 kWh&#x2F;L[1].  Its retail price is about $3&#x2F;gallon, or $0.8&#x2F;L.<p>So, assuming 100% efficiency, the energy source for making gasoline should be ~$0.084&#x2F;kWh to break even.<p>Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates 2022&#x27;s solar&#x2F;wind generation cost at $73.7 and $55.8 per MWh [2], or $0.0737 and $0.0558 per kWh.<p>Assuming wind power, gasoline generation has to be ~66% efficient to break even, which is (I guess) not physically impossible, but an incredible engineering challenge.<p>...and that&#x27;s assuming retail price.  I&#x27;m not an energy expert, but [3] seems to say that gasoline&#x27;s current bulk price is ~$1.5&#x2F;gallon, which pushes the technology firmly on the side of losing money.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Energy_density" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Energy_density</a><p>[2] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Cost_of_electricity_by_source#Energy_Information_Administration" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Cost_of_electricity_by_source#...</a><p>[3] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.eia.gov&#x2F;dnav&#x2F;pet&#x2F;hist&#x2F;LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&amp;s=ema_epm0_pwg_nus_dpg&amp;f=m" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.eia.gov&#x2F;dnav&#x2F;pet&#x2F;hist&#x2F;LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&amp;s=e...</a>