Why are we finding new ways to make green energy not green?
this post was submitted on 08 Feb 2026
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If it prevents new carbon from entering the air and carbon cycle then it's a good thing. It would turn industries more carbon neutral.
If it becomes efficient enough it might be a good way to get carbon out of the air for good as long as we find a way to store it. That solution is obviously not aligned with capitalism so it's a good thing China is developing it.
We also don't know the lower limit of cost so this technology might never come up again if it's not feasible.
as long as we find a way to store it
Turn CO2 into microplastics taps forehead
Lots of interesting details in the article this time
- The scientists created a process for converting CO2 into carbon monoxide (at least that's what is stated). Wierd headline
- There already were processes that reduced CO2 to carbon monoxide, this one replaces certain consumable organic compounds with a material that is not consumed. So it's cleaner and cheaper
- The material is actually the star here. It stores electrons when exposed to light, and this helps reduce the CO2 in the processing steps. The material also works with natural sunlight so that's neat
If you don't know much about chemistry, "reducing" a compound is when you either
- Add electrons
- Loose protons
- Add hydrogen
- Remove Oxygen
If you're wondering what's up with hydrogen and oxygen, just know that hydrogen is the least "electronegative" of the common elements. It's basically the baby other elements can steal ~~candy~~ electrons from. So adding hydrogen gives extra electrons to other parts of the compound. Oxygen meanwhile is like a gangster for electrons. It steals them from everyone else (except flourine*), so getting rid of it the same as adding electrons.
*florine is the electron IRS.
If you are astute, you might notice that reductions are the exact opposite of oxidation (the latter of which consists of adding oxygen). I'm pretty sure most reductions need for you to add energy, which most oxidations release energy. There's other factors to it, but that's a good rule of thumb.
Also the reason we talk of adding of subtracting electrons is cause of acid and base chemistry. It's relevant there.