--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: About half today’s production cost is for…" description: "\"“About half today’s production cost is for precursor material—96% of which is polyacrylonitrile made from oil (propylene) or natural gas (propane), bot..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/amory-lovins-15083_carbon_about-half-today-s-production-cost-is-fo_1484205.png" --- # About half today’s production cost is for precursor… ![“About half today’s production cost is for precursor material—96% of which is polyacrylonitrile made from oil (propylene) or natural gas (propane), both of which have volatile prices. Carbon-fiber manufacturers are starting to make their own precursors and expect to cut their costs by about 20%…” quote by Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/amory-lovins-15083_carbon_about-half-today-s-production-cost-is-fo_1484205.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/amory-lovins-15083_carbon_about-half-today-s-production-cost-is-fo_1484205.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/amory-lovins-15083_carbon_about-half-today-s-production-cost-is-fo_1484205.png) > ““About half today’s production cost is for precursor material—96% of which is polyacrylonitrile made from oil (propylene) or natural gas (propane), both of which have volatile prices. Carbon-fiber manufacturers are starting to make their own precursors and expect to cut their costs by about 20%. But much cheaper precursors are emerging. Their strands of carbon atoms are commonplace; the trick is removing the other elements and forming the remaining carbon skeleton into long, pure strands. Solve those problems, and carbon fiber could be made from biomaterials like plant fibers, or even from recycled plastic trash. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) believes these alternatives could potentially cut carbon-fiber costs by up to 90%,”” [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Current carbon‑fiber costs are high due to expensive precursors; new biomaterial and recycled‑plastic sources could slash prices dramatically **In simple terms:** Cheaper raw materials could make carbon fiber far more affordable Key Takeaway Invest in alternative precursor research Themes innovation cost reduction materials science Mood optimistic analytical Type technical strategic When to use this quote - Manufacturing - automotive - aerospace - green tech Key Concepts Sustainability economics engineering Questions to Reflect On - What barriers exist for scaling biomaterial precursors? - How can policy accelerate cost reduction? 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I fear carbon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-gold/i-don-t-fear-fracking-i-fear-carbon/) [Russell Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-gold/) > [I think natural gas has been a big part of the solution if in fact we need to reduce man-generated carbon dioxide emissions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/i-think-natural-gas-has-been-a-big-part-of-the-solution-if-in-fact-we/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [Modern life would not be possible if it were not for chemicals, nor would modern natural gas production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-mcclendon/modern-life-would-not-be-possible-if-it-were-not-for-chemicals-nor/) [Aubrey McClendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-mcclendon/) > [“Sandy escarpments rose up on the left and forested mesas hugged the right until we dropped off a hill and headed into the Rifle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-storey/sandy-escarpments-rose-up-on-the-left-and-forested-mesas-hugged-the/) [Erik Storey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-storey/) > [The cheapest natural gas in the world is in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-boone-pickens/the-cheapest-natural-gas-in-the-world-is-in-the-united-states/) [T. 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Today, that is no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bacevich/americans-once-believed-that-their-prosperity-and-way-of-life/) [Andrew Bacevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bacevich/) > [The volatile natural gas market has affected us all, and we are giving our customers an option to lock in their electricity price for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-burke/the-volatile-natural-gas-market-has-affected-us-all-and-we-are-giving/) Jim Burke > [We have for too long put vast oil and natural gas reserves off limits to exploration and production, as The Washington Post editorial stated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/we-have-for-too-long-put-vast-oil-and-natural-gas-reserves-off-limits/) [Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/) > [We have to slow down the emissions of carbon dioxide and methane from coal burning, oil and eventually natural gas... And the best ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramez-naam/we-have-to-slow-down-the-emissions-of-carbon-dioxide-and-methane-from/) [Ramez Naam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramez-naam/) ## More by Amory Lovins > [Prominent exploration experts have recently predicted that total world production of liquid oil will peak by about the end of this decade-or a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/prominent-exploration-experts-have-recently-predicted-that-total/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [“Contrary to some recent reports, electrification won’t be constrained by critical materials (see The Rare-Earth Conundrum sidebar); rather, they’re vibrant business opportunities to displace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/contrary-to-some-recent-reports-electrification-won-t-be-constrained/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [In the model that we grew up with, governments rule physical territory in which national economies function, and strong economies support hegemonic military power.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/in-the-model-that-we-grew-up-with-governments-rule-physical-territory/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [I once met an economist who believed that everything was fungible for money, so I suggested he enclose himself in a large bell-jar with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/i-once-met-an-economist-who-believed-that-everything-was-fungible-for/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [“Some automakers already sell autos with carbon-fiber composite parts or powered by electric motors. As we’ll see next, these innovations are about to converge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/some-automakers-already-sell-autos-with-carbon-fiber-composite-parts/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [Nuclear power has died of an incurable attack of market forces and is way beyond any hope of revival, because the competitors are several-fold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/nuclear-power-has-died-of-an-incurable-attack-of-market-forces-and-is/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [Fire made us human, fossil fuels made us modern, but now we need a new fire that makes us safe, secure, healthy and durable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/fire-made-us-human-fossil-fuels-made-us-modern-but-now-we-need-a-new/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [I think along the way, as we treat nature as model and mentor, and not as a nuisance to be evaded or manipulated, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/i-think-along-the-way-as-we-treat-nature-as-model-and-mentor-and-not/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [Today we have a temporary aberration called "industrial capitalism" which is inadvertently liquidating its two most important sources of capital, the natural world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/today-we-have-a-temporary-aberration-called-industrial-capitalism/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [Public discourse about climate change has resulted in the erroneous idea that it's all about cost, burden and sacrifice. If the math was correct,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/public-discourse-about-climate-change-has-resulted-in-the-erroneous/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [I'm a practitioner of elegant frugality. I don't feel comfortable telling other people what to do, so I just try and lead by example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/i-m-a-practitioner-of-elegant-frugality-i-don-t-feel-comfortable/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [I am a man without a furnace. My windows are insulated by 19 sheets of glass which cost less than installing a heating system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/i-am-a-man-without-a-furnace-my-windows-are-insulated-by-19-sheets-of/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [The barriers that renewables and efficiency face come less from our living in a capitalist market economy and more from not taking market economics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/the-barriers-that-renewables-and-efficiency-face-come-less-from-our/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [The reason the U.S. lags so badly is that we have obsolete rules that favor big over small, supply over efficiency, and incumbents over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/the-reason-the-u-s-lags-so-badly-is-that-we-have-obsolete-rules-that/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [“Feebates make efficient autos cheaper to buy and inefficient autos costlier.79 Buy a fuel hog and you’d pay an up-front fee, right on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/feebates-make-efficient-autos-cheaper-to-buy-and-inefficient-autos/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) [Explore all 44 Amory Lovins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) ## More Carbon quotes > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [every being is unique.god neva creates carbon copies,he alys creates originals.he is truly a creator.he neva repeats.but man goes on living in imitation.we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-being-is-unique-god-neva-creates-carbon-copies-he-alys-creates/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The brightest and most valuable diamond started life as just a lump of carbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dilger/the-brightest-and-most-valuable-diamond-started-life-as-just-a-lump/) Peter Dilger > [Washington bureaucrats have classified the very air we exhale as a pollutant and have gone unchallenged in this incredible assertion. The logical consequence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/washington-bureaucrats-have-classified-the-very-air-we-exhale-as-a/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [I love being a carbon molecule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-trussell/i-love-being-a-carbon-molecule/) [Duncan Trussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-trussell/) > [Coal is the moral choice, particularly for the developing world... The model for the world right now should be Australia. Australia gets it. Scientifically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morano/coal-is-the-moral-choice-particularly-for-the-developing-world-the/) Marc Morano > [Each year we pump at least six billion tons of heat-trapping carbon into the innermost layer of our atmosphere, whose outer extent is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-gelbspan/each-year-we-pump-at-least-six-billion-tons-of-heat-trapping-carbon/) [Ross Gelbspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-gelbspan/) > [If every country committed to spending 0.05 per cent of GDP on researching non-carbon-emitting energy technologies, that would cost $25 billion a year, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjorn-lomborg/if-every-country-committed-to-spending-0-05-per-cent-of-gdp-on/) [Bjorn Lomborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjorn-lomborg/) > [We're full of electricity, and the walls and floor of a building contain carbon - the same makeup as a video tape - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-james/we-re-full-of-electricity-and-the-walls-and-floor-of-a-building/) [Peter James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-james/) > [Whether carbon dioxide is quite the environmental villain that some people make it out to be is not yet proven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/whether-carbon-dioxide-is-quite-the-environmental-villain-that-some/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [“Steven Apfelbaum, a restoration ecologist in Wisconsin, says that every 1 percent increase in soil carbon holds an additional sixty thousand gallons of water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/steven-apfelbaum-a-restoration-ecologist-in-wisconsin-says-that-every/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [I want to break up the Wall Street banks. Hillary Clinton doesn't. I want to raise the minimum wage to 15 bucks an hour.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-want-to-break-up-the-wall-street-banks-hillary-clinton-doesn-t-i/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I also think that if you want to put a price on carbon, why not just do it with a simple tax? Why not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/i-also-think-that-if-you-want-to-put-a-price-on-carbon-why-not-just/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [If you want to make a substantial reduction in your carbon footprint, doing it on your own is virtually impossible, especially if you're driving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-arnold/if-you-want-to-make-a-substantial-reduction-in-your-carbon-footprint/) [Tom Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-arnold/) > [Jesus was not born on December 25th. There's carbon evidence of it. That freaks people out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-skiba/jesus-was-not-born-on-december-25th-there-s-carbon-evidence-of-it/) [Matt Skiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-skiba/) Browse all 812 Carbon quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“About half today’s production cost is for precursor material—96% of which is polyacrylonitrile made from oil (propylene) or natural gas (propane), both of which have volatile prices. Carbon-fiber manufacturers are starting to make their own precursors and expect to cut their costs by about 20%. But much cheaper precursors are emerging. Their strands of carbon atoms are commonplace; the trick is removing the other elements and forming the remaining carbon skeleton into long, pure strands. Solve those problems, and carbon fiber could be made from biomaterials like plant fibers, or even from recycled plastic trash. 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