[Gasification] Hydrogen

[MMBTUPR at aol.com]

                    to   Gasification List                    from    Lewis L 
Smith

To call H2   <<   a   hoax   >>   and assert that this hoax has been exposed  
 <<    endlessly, ad inifinitum   >>   is both unprofessional, inappropriate 
language for this discussion group and contrary to fact.   In fact, while the 
potential of H2 is the subject of intense controversy, some niche uses are 
already commercial and for others, commercial status is on the short-term or 
midterm horizon. So   [in my judgment]   H2 is   at present   very much a mixed 
bag.   For example   >>>

•          There are several routes to   the over-hyped   <<   hydrogen 
economy   >>   but all of them   appear to depend on a number of technological 
breakthroughs which have yet to be made. Undoubtedly some of them will, but   <<   
When ?   >>   is a good question. This means that the achievement of one of 
these visions is indeterminate. In plain English,   <<   the jury is still out  
 >> !

•          There already are, however a significant number of niche uses 
which are economically and environmentally feasible now. For example, biomass, 
photocells or wind to electrolysis to a hydrogen-using industrial process, such 
as a commercial bakery, a paint department of an appliance or auto 
manufacturer, all kinds of drying operations and such like. Some stationary fuel cell 
uses. And so on. Some of these are already in use. Those of you who follow H2 
developments more closely than I do and/or are familiar with industrial processes 
will undoubtedly think of more.

How far we will be able to go with all this is   [in my judgment]   still   
very much an open question. For example   >>>

•          The technological breakthroughs mentioned previously.

•          I suspect that the cost of transporting, storing and dispatching 
H2 plus the fear of high-pressure storage tanks, will never be overcome and so 
use of H2 in the gaseous form for land transportation will never become 
widespread. 

•          However, the foregoing does not rule out storing H2 in solid form 
as part of a fuel-cell based system of propulsion. And so on.

Whatever the future of H2, it is clear   [to me at least] that we need a 
broad    <<   slate   >>   of renewable energy options in order to replace oil   
[and eventually coal and natural gas]   .   So let's keep working on the 
possibilities of H2 and encourage the H2 community to focus on niches and   <<   
next step head   >>   solutions, and drop the painting of broad-brush visions 
which strain the credulity of the average citizen   [and a good many 
professionals too] . 

Cordially. End of message.