Hydrogen will never catch on until we can figure out the storage problem. It’s hard to store useful amounts of hydrogen in a small space without cryogenics or insane pressures. Fuel cells that generate hydrogen as needed from water or something is probably what we’ll end up with.
It’s easy, really. Base grid load tends to be slow to adjust, like nuclear could take days. Use that extra base load to run electrolysis when it isn’t being used. Grid usage is predictable enough that production would be pretty steady. It is already being stored successfully, and in some places there are even fueling stations for fuel cell cars like the Toyota Mirai.
The fuel is produced ostensibly “for free” and could also be reused in hydrogen turbine peaker plants nearby the nuclear facility when peak needs more peak. For double-free.
We have a new fuel source for a car type that already exists, that has faster refueling times and better range than electric alone, and the fuel cycle is zero carbon.
Fueling stations need to swap tanks, but they can all still exist, so we don’t break a section of the economy at the same time. (The cost to each fueling station would likely be a challenge, in the old days, a government subsidy for conversion would take care of that.)
Suddenly, we’re all on green energy and fossil fuels can suck it. Meanwhile, millions of cars are spewing water exhaust all over instead of pollution, helping with weather/drought cycles at scale.
The problem with “from water” is that it takes as much energy to separate the hydrogen and oxygen in water as you get back by oxidizing the hydrogen to produce water. You can’t use water as a useful way to store hydrogen for energy because of that.
Hydrogen will never catch on until we can figure out the storage problem. It’s hard to store useful amounts of hydrogen in a small space without cryogenics or insane pressures. Fuel cells that generate hydrogen as needed from water or something is probably what we’ll end up with.
It’s easy, really. Base grid load tends to be slow to adjust, like nuclear could take days. Use that extra base load to run electrolysis when it isn’t being used. Grid usage is predictable enough that production would be pretty steady. It is already being stored successfully, and in some places there are even fueling stations for fuel cell cars like the Toyota Mirai.
The fuel is produced ostensibly “for free” and could also be reused in hydrogen turbine peaker plants nearby the nuclear facility when peak needs more peak. For double-free.
We have a new fuel source for a car type that already exists, that has faster refueling times and better range than electric alone, and the fuel cycle is zero carbon.
Fueling stations need to swap tanks, but they can all still exist, so we don’t break a section of the economy at the same time. (The cost to each fueling station would likely be a challenge, in the old days, a government subsidy for conversion would take care of that.)
Suddenly, we’re all on green energy and fossil fuels can suck it. Meanwhile, millions of cars are spewing water exhaust all over instead of pollution, helping with weather/drought cycles at scale.
–sent from an Al Gore Dream
wakes up
Oh shit, we’re in now Nazi America, never mind.
The problem with “from water” is that it takes as much energy to separate the hydrogen and oxygen in water as you get back by oxidizing the hydrogen to produce water. You can’t use water as a useful way to store hydrogen for energy because of that.
Also, that’s our drinking water you’re turning into fuel.