Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

rossco311 t1_iwv3stj wrote

Reply to comment by bremidon in Overhyping hydrogen as a fuel risks endangering net-zero goals by filosoful

Production - I replied to your other post, there are methods that we aren't using that would be able to help us acquire hydrogen both inexpensively and without massive power use.

Transport - If we're simply talking about transporting hydrogen, I agree it's a bit tricky with our current infrastructure. I am working closely with some people that are developing lightweight tank systems using a combination of carbon fiber for strength and a hydrogen membrane to prevent leakage. There is also the option of transporting hydrogen compounds that don't need the special handling that pure hydrogen does.

Storage - There are a few interesting suggestions on how to store hydrogen that I've been made aware of. One such method is to sequester the gas inside existing underground salt cones. Another option is simply to store hydrogen containing compounds and then produce the hydrogen as required by combining them as needed. There is some very interesting work happening in Germany right now with Magnesium Hydride for example.

I agree that humanity has hurdles to overcome in putting hydrogen to work for us en masse. The sooner we start figuring out how to get over them, the better off we will all be.

1

bremidon t1_iwvdg1b wrote

Production - You are going to have to be significantly more clear in what you are suggesting. Otherwise you are saying that the entire world is filled with idiots unable to see such a way forward and unwilling to become rich in the process. If such an inexpensive way forward exists, why did the hydrogen industry decide to give batteries such a head start before figuring it out? Quite sporting of them, really. But we were identifying hurdles, and this one was already accepted out of the gate.

Transport - Accepted as hurdle (and that is all I'm looking for here).

Storage - I'm underwhelmed that we are still at the suggestion stage here. I will take this to mean that it has been accepted as a hurdle.

I continue to maintain that we are 20-30 years away from a viable hydrogen system that can be rolled out across our economy. Because of this, I do not see hydrogen playing a part in most of the transport industry, as that will have been effectively solved by batteries; we will be in a near-closed system by then. But I do see a significant role in industry and heating.

Finally, I agree we should be on this as soon as possible. It may be disappointing for people who were still holding out hope that hydrogen would solve our transportation needs (I used to be one of them), but there is good news in that batteries have unexpectedly become an effective solution.

2

rossco311 t1_iwvuyvd wrote

Indeed there is a lot of ground to cover on this and I think the more demand that can exist for hydrogen, the more emphasis will be placed on methods of acquiring it.

2