I like the idea of hydrogen. It's just the practice of turning into a viable energy resource without equal or worse consequences to where we are now that has me concerned.
Still, every so often, into a worrier's life a little sun may shine, and in so doing prove the solar solution to my point at the end... possibly.
So I share this via Dave at Solarventi: Another somewhat slightly reassuring fact on hydrogen and the water vapour output when burnt.
Now, by way of balance, I'd have to say that anyone who hails from an outfit called the 'Campaign for a Hydrogen Economy' might be expected to up it big-time, but I'll allow the facts as likely valid unless disproven.
My main point at issue though, now and into the future, is the energy used to make the stuff. How is that going to be produced?
We can't all siphon it from Stuart Rose's Beemer.
2 comments:
What did hydrogen do for us? Oh, just a few things, like cleaning up your gasoline, by removing the dirty sulfur. And then there's the fact that although we're running out of light, sweet crude, you can use hydrogen to upgrade heavier factions of oil to usable products.
Like to grow stuff? Over 60% of the world's hydrogen is used to make ammonia for fertilizer production.
Wonder how large turbines often stay cool while producing electricity? Hydrogen actually cools them better than water.
How about semiconductors, lightbulbs, steel?? Yup, all made with hydrogen.
But that's all old news, right? There's also the newer stuff like hydrogen powered forklifts which allow 24-hour warehouses to have lift trucks that operate emission-free and eliminate the environmentally unfriendly and less productive large batteries that the hydrogen and fuel cells replace.
Then there's hydrogen injection systems that you can buy today to add to tractor trailers. The small add-on system splits water from the electricity in the alternator and adds the hydrogen and oxygen into the air intake of a conventional diesel/gasoline engine. This reduces emissions, improves performance and lowers diesel/gasoline use.
Ever wonder during a power outtage why your cell phone usually still works? Probably because the back-up power system is running on a hydrogen fuel cell.
Still reading? How about hydrogen powered professional video cameras? With lower weight, continuous run time and again, saving all the battery disposal, most videographers prefer them.
And that doesn't even include the stuff coming down the road.
Tone is a funny thing.
Without knowing who is putting something in print, it can be hard to read the way they are sharing it.
So I am still trying to figure whether Anonymous (as the input is so very informative and useful I have decided to let this through, though I do so not like that handle and often feel tempted to just click delete without reading in case it's a flame)is a big Monty Python fan... as in Life of Brian. As there the origins of my headline can be found.
Yes, hydrogen is pretty useful, which is why I am a fan. Even... as a potential source of combustible transport fuel.
However, I look forward to being educated (soon?) that the energy required to create it for this specific use will release proportionately less greenhouses gasses into the air (in this regard solar is a possible, though in what volume outside of a desert region I don't know. Nuclear is 'clean' for sure, but there is the old Space 1999 concern. But I just can't see any hydrocarbon-to-electricity-based system offering the necessary efficiencies...yet) to satisfy my enviROI concerns. Then it's a no brainer, and I'll have my Volvo on it tomorrow.
Which means that whatever exciting stuff is to come down the road, I simply hope it's a viable 'instead of' or even 'as well as'. However, we probably also need to look at staying put (in business and socially) where we are a bit more in complement, unless the energy we consume as a consequence of travelling really has no pollution consequence as well in the entire creation to consumption chain.
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