Biofuels, Carbon Capture, and Timber: Climate Solutions with Prof. Valerie Thomas

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In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Professor Valerie Thomas from Georgia Tech to dig deep into some of the pressing topics in the climate space today – from carbon capture and biofuels to the growing potential of using timber in construction.

We kicked off with carbon capture, a technology often seen as a critical tool in reducing atmospheric CO2. Valerie broke it down for us, explaining the science behind capturing CO2 from the air and the enormous challenges of scaling this up to meet global needs. Even with the latest projects in places like Iceland, we’re still orders of magnitude away from removing the billions of tonnes of CO2 required. The tech works, but it’s costly and energy-intensive.

From there, we ventured into biofuels. Valerie outlined some fascinating projects using algae and bio-crude, and the potential of integrating these processes with existing infrastructure. The goal? To eventually make biofuels more affordable and sustainable for industries like aviation. However, much like carbon capture, costs remain a significant barrier.

Finally, we explored the concept of using timber in construction as a natural carbon capture solution. Using mass timber to replace steel and concrete not only reduces emissions but locks away carbon in buildings for decades or even centuries. It's a promising avenue, but again, scaling this up will take time.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the future of energy and how we might tackle some of the biggest climate challenges we face.

Listen now to get a glimpse into the future of climate solutions!

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Credits
Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper