One of the things about NG/CSG/biogas, (methane) is the fact it can be consumed in ceramic fuel cells, for little or no carbon production, just mostly water vapour.
The 70% energy coefficient of the methane consuming ceramic fuel cell, is far and away the best most efficient in the world.
Examples I've seen are small enough to replace the engine in conventional vehicles.
And electric vehicles are the future in a global, carbon constrained future!
Why CNG powered ceramic fuel cell combinations, could also replace the inordinately expensive overhead wires, in trains, trolley buses and trams/light rail.
[And they could quite dramatically lower, by at least half, household power bills, if gas is reticulated to the home to power much more reliable ceramic fuel cells, which in turn provide endless free hot water.]
And a gas refill for a vehicle, has got to be much faster than any battery recharge.
Moreover, a single ceramic cell in a motor vehicle, has simply got to be much lighter than the half a ton of lithium batteries now powering the currently, most efficient electric vehicles in the world! Economies of scale could lower comparable costs!
We invented and currently lead the world in ceramic fuel cell technology?
We should be able to exploit that fact to mass produce CNG> ceramic fuel cell powered electric vehicles for the world, even if that means a government prepared to pick and back potential winners!
And we have already ploughed billions into the car industry. The only way to recoup this money, is to invest significantly more of it, preferably in (an) employee operated co-op(s)
Uninvolved uncommitted prevaricating governments have already cost us trillions in lost oil, coal and iron ore industry profits and foregone tax revenue.
And let's not forget, Leyland, Nissan and Mitsubishi!
Perhaps it is time our pollies caned the can/the endless no can do excuses, and just got on with building our own prosperity, while we yet have the resources to do it, and indeed, finally reclaim our own economic sovereignty!
I submit, those that actually care, would!
Rhrosty

Sussssssh for god's sake don't tell the greens.

Work this one out. We have a highly educated motivated population with enormous resources and energy but have a falling dollar, increasing unemployment and now debt that is consuming the future of our children.

Has anyone of OLO'S intelligencia yet to solve the riddle?

Yes Arjay,

Welcome to the world of fractional reserve banking, the US who like to print circa $85B per month, an energy system based on pulling investment capital from real wealth progressive segments of the community to one's that funnel it to loss making ventures, vis: the FIRE economy.

Welcome to reality, fortunately for a tiny number of us, realists, we recognise the innate failings of 'man'. We know its not going to end well but get on with things no matter what.

Politics aside, society is driven by profit, and the growth mantra, thus we are locked into a negative ('positive') feedback loop that will see global per-capita GDP only continue to decline as time wanders along.

Welcome to the new 'normal'.

Get used to it.

I know the 1% don't give a $%&* they have it all solved (apparently). As for the rest of you, start saving, you are going to need every penny and foot forward just to stay solvent and standing still!

We have a highly educated motivated population with enormous resources and energy but have a falling dollar, increasing unemployment and now debt that is consuming the future of our children.
Arjay,
Many Australians are obviously not as highly motivated as you would like. Australia now tops the list as the best third world country but, at several thousand other third worlders coming in every year this will soon change. Already our pensioners are worse off than our new invaders. Our education system is failing hence the above scenario. Law & Order are a thing of the past & politicians are playing musical chairs.
We're already importing the ships which bring imported goods & the occasional group of third world invaders. I wish we could import some intelligent people to start breeding here, God knows we need it. I can't think of the opposite to the term Education but that's what we have here.
What ever happened to Ethanol ?

Whatever happened to ethanol?
Well some unusually bright folk discovered that the production of ethanol creates and energy debt.
Or put another way, if the only fuel available was ethanol, you'd run out of it well before you finished harvesting the corn.
Moreover, it robbed the world of essential food, which in turn forced up the price of staples.
However, a new and Australian invented process, ferments woody weeds, grass clipping and all manner of plant sourced waste cellulose.
And simply passing biogas/NG/CSG through a catalyst, knocks of a couple of hydrogen atoms, which converts the methane into higher octane liquid methanol.
Moreover, a second stage digester, turns the waste material of ethanol production, into methane.
The waste product from that second process eminently suitable for algae production. Some algae are up to sixty percent oil, which is easily extracted via simple sun-drying and crushing.
Rhrosty.