(2019 Archived) Sequel on Venusian Energy Sources and Manufacturable Fuel

Having written this in 2019, and originally published in 2021.. when I was 15 and 17, there would be inaccuracies that I would correct here. Having removed it, I'm publishing  again, for sake of completion so that the efforts wouldn't have gone to vain:

The Sun is the Earth’s main Energy source. The same is true for Venus – except that the Venusians would use sunlight much more effectively than we would. With 42% and 218% more Solar Energy received than from the Earth and Mars respectively, the Venusians could literally totally depend on Solar Energy for everything – possibly without even having to face an energy crisis, even if Venus were to be swarmed with decks of cloud-archipelagos.

Nevertheless, it would be better to have more variety in Energy sources, specifically fuels, just in case anything was to go wrong. I’ve found four candidate methods of producing a variety of fuels, which are more consistent and efficient on the cloud-tops:

1.      Zubrin’s Methane-Water Production Methodology.

2.      The Fischer-Tropsch Process.

3.      Sulphuric Acid Electrolysis.

4.      The Hot Hydrogenation of Silicon.

(I) Zubrin’s Methane-Water Production Methodology:Dr. Robert Zubrin, founder of the Mars Society, had been finding ways of using the Martian environment to our advantage in future Martian colonization. Today, I draw inspiration from one of his methodologies of obtaining Methane (The simplest Hydrocarbon Alkane and efficient fuel) from Carbon Dioxide ^[57]. Though this was originally meant for Mars, I believe that it’s equally as compatible on Venus – as a matter of fact, I believe it could even work better! The alleged reaction is as follows:

H₂ + CO₂ → CH₄ + H₂O                                                                  

Hydrogen + Carbon Dioxide → Methane + Water

Using this methodology, 18 tonnes of Methane could be generated from atmospheric Carbon Dioxide, for every 1 tonne of Hydrogen used ^[57]! Also, I believe that the Water produced by this reaction could be electrolysed back into Hydrogen, and reused in the reaction. Since there is ~5164 times more Carbon Dioxide on Venus than Mars, this process would be much more efficient on Venus – On Venus; this would literally be a perpetual cycle of converting redundant atmospheric Carbon Dioxide into usable Methane!

The (II) The Fischer-Tropsch Process is a similar, but more complex process, which could also be used to create Hydrocarbon fuels (and lubricants), this time using Monoxide^[1]. This is particularly a good use of redundant or excess Carbon Dioxide.

(III) Sulphuric Acid Electrolysis: If we were to recall correctly, the Venusian atmosphere has a great deal of concentrated Sulphuric acid – which again, incidentally, is still aqueous. It would mean that it is electrolyze-able. When I last talked about this, I used it as a methodology of generating Oxygen. But, I promised to show why it is of more significance, and I shall fulfill it now:

4OH^- → O₂ + 2H₂O + 4e^-                 

Hydroxide Ions → Oxygen + Water + Electrons^-

The Hydroxide ions, found in this the atmospheric Sulphuric acid solution, migrate towards the negatively charged anode; will be oxidized to form gaseous and elemental Oxygen along with Water and electrons. Meanwhile, the Hydrogen ions present in the solution, would migrate towards the positive cathode and be reduced to form gaseous and elemental Hydrogen, as follows:    

2H⁺ + 2e^- → H₂                                                                                       

Hydrogen Ions + Electrons → Hydrogen

Thereby, the overall electrolysis process of atmospheric Sulphuric acid would be something like this:

4 H⁺+ 4OH^-→ 2H₂ + O₂ + 2H₂O                                               

Hydrogen Ions + Hydroxide Ions → Hydrogen + Oxygen + Water 

Basically, the electrolysis of atmospheric Sulphuric acid would result in Hydrogen and Oxygen bubbling-off. Hydrogen and Oxygen, eh! Doesn’t it ring a bell? Well, if it does; it’s presumably because it’s Rocket Fuel! – Rocket Fuel is Hydrogen and Oxygen. This is quite very great, because the Sulphuric acid is almost everywhere in the Venusian atmosphere! It technically if the medium were to be further diluted; but, if we were to oversimplify it, it would be more like – “Electrolyze the outside, and you shall get Rocket Fuel”! This phrase succinctly sums-up how amazing this is – There would technically never be a shortage of Rocket fuel on Venus, and it could be made quite cheaply. In fact, it could turn out to be a highly demanded commodity, frequently exported back to the Earth, or perhaps even beyond. Now, that’s good business!

(IV)The Hot Hydrogenation of Silicon: The Silicon extracted from the Silica essence of the Basaltic minerals would inevitably be of an impure state. But, that doesn’t make it any worse for being bubbled with hot Hydrogen. The Silicon and Hot Hydrogen would react to form this wonderful gas named Silane (SiH₄).

Si + 2H_{2 (Hot)} → SiH₄                                                                                                                                           

  Silicon + Hot Hydrogen → Silane

The amazing thing about Silane is that, it’s a good candidate for Venusian fuel – which isn’t surprising, considering that Silane is literally Methane with its Carbon substituted for Silicon! But what makes it very good is that, unlike many fuels, Silane is combustible in Carbon Dioxide! – The dominant gas of the Venusian atmosphere. Silane combusts in Carbon Dioxide as follows ^[55]:

SiH₄ + 2CO₂ → SiO₂ + 2C + 2H₂O                                                  

Silane + Carbon Dioxide → Silicon Dioxide + Carbon + Water

Silane’s combustibility in Carbon Dioxide is a leg-up in its usage practicality on Venus. In fact, with the other mentioned fuels, it could be used along with solar energy and some radio-isotopic energy sources, to power Venusian civilization. I believe that solar energy would still dominate as an Energy source, as of its super-abundance. This would essentially be used indoors of the cloud cities, as it’s a clean source of energy that wouldn’t pose a threat to the cloud-city biospheres. I could say literally the same of outside the cloud-cities. Then where could we use the other fuels?

They could be used far-below in the abysmal depths of Venusian atmosphere – with the lighting of an abnormally reddish rainy twilight here on Earth ^[1] – the usage of solar energy would be quite ineffective. The Hydrocarbon fuels and Silane producible, would fine quite a lovely home there, as a fuel. Their combustion would lead to the Carbon and Silicon Dioxides, and Carbon from going back to the Venusian atmosphere and terra. The cycle repeats once they’re re-extracted sometime in the future. Using solar energy for the cloud-tops and upper atmosphere, and the other fuels for the deeper depths of Venus, would be quite a systematic process. More importantly, the Venusians could rest assured that they wouldn’t face an energy crisis any time soon, regardless of being above the cloud-tops or at the surface, as there would always be enough solar energy and producible fuels to compensate for it.

Bibliography

Achinthya Nanayakkara (31.03.2025)

Originally written - 2019