A step toward renewable diesel

[Kevin Lancaster]

A step toward renewable diesel

MIT engineers have genetically reprogrammed a strain of yeast so that it converts sugars to fats much more efficiently, an advance that could make possible the renewable production of high-energy fuels such as diesel.

 

[Tomtomtom]

This is great news and important work. Solar power, batteries, and electric vehicles are much sexier, but without man-made heavy fuels, we aren't going to get far. Literally.

The holy grail would be being able to produce oil at high yields directly from sunshine with minimal water, on non-agricultural land. A source of energy-dense fuel with no net carbon footprint and no impact on food prices.

 

[Budza]

holy grail

Pretty much.