Synfuels: back to basics

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Resources; (United States)

OSTI ID:6207720

Landsberg, W H; Coda, M J

Only two US synfuel plants, both with government assistance, are under construction as a result of lower-priced and plentiful oil, decreasing demand in a sluggish economy, rising costs of the projects, and the bureaucratic problems of the Synthetic Fuels Corporation (SFC) itself. The authors review project solicitations and casualties, concluding that the January 1983 repeat entrants in the third solicitation do not offer the brightest hope, although synfuels can play an important role in the long-term US energy picture. They suggest an immediate and searching review of the philosophy and progress of the synfuels program, addressing SFC funding, short- and long-term goals, approaches, technology, costs, roles of industry and government separately and jointly, and reconsideration of the early suggestion of orienting the program toward information and insurance, i.e., building facilities large enough to reveal potential problems but too small for significant supply. 1 table.

• OSTI ID: 6207720
• Journal Information: Resources; (United States), Journal Name: Resources; (United States) Vol. 72; ISSN RESUB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
295000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Hydrogen & Synthetic Fuels
CONSTRUCTION
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MARKET
PERFORMANCE
SYNTHETIC FUELS
SYNTHETIC FUELS CORPORATION
SYNTHETIC FUELS REFINERIES