Migrating to a hydrogen economy.

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Goat
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Migrating to a hydrogen economy.

Post #1

Post by Goat »

Recently, there have been a number of advances that makes it appear moving to a hydrogen based economy for fuel rather than relying on fossil fuels feasible. One is there has been advances in using solar energy to produce hydrogen from solar energy much more economical.

The second advancement is the advances in fuel cells. For example, the cube is a fuel cell that runs much cooler than previous fuel cells, so that it can be manufactured using steel rather than more expensive alloys. This reduces the cost of making fuel cells. I am sure there are other examples.

Now, assuming that both the fuel cell cost, and the various different methods for producing cheap hydrogen pan out (everything from extracting it from plant material, to the various solar methods), what technical hurdles to people see for getting hydrogen to replace fossil fuels as a legitimate source for electricity, and to replace gas engines in cars?

I am sure most people would see the economic and environmental benefits of getting away from fossil fuels. Fuel cells don’t have the political and emotional drawbacks than nuclear power plants have at this current time.
“What do you think science is? There is nothing magical about science. It is simply a systematic way for carefully and thoroughly observing nature and using consistent logic to evaluate results. So which part of that exactly do you disagree with? Do you disagree with being thorough? Using careful observation? Being systematic? Or using consistent logic?�

Steven Novella

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Post #11

Post by Goat »

A couple of interesting announcement for cheap hydrogen production

First, hypersolar has gotten their cheap solar cell to produce 1.2V of electricity,
The theoretical limit to create hydrogen via electrolysis is 1.3 volts, with the practical limit being 1.5V.

http://www.hypersolar.com/news_detail.php?id=56

Another approach is using some atomic scale catalysts.

http://phys.org/news/2014-01-atomic-sca ... rogen.html


Using these methods could reduce a lot of the 'we got to ship it all over the place', by allowing on site hydrogen production (make the hydrogen right at the fuel station, including at your house).
“What do you think science is? There is nothing magical about science. It is simply a systematic way for carefully and thoroughly observing nature and using consistent logic to evaluate results. So which part of that exactly do you disagree with? Do you disagree with being thorough? Using careful observation? Being systematic? Or using consistent logic?�

Steven Novella

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