[Gasification] Hydrogen

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear Lewis
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <MMBTUPR at aol.com>
...del..
>
> •          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.

The end result of Hydrogen is invariably promoted as electricity from a fuel 
cell. Why not simply skip the fuel cell intermediate step and use the 
electricity directly?
>
>
> •          The technological breakthroughs mentioned previously.

The Fast Breeder Reactor is another technological breakthrough that would 
solve many problems if it came to reality. It is a long way from reality. I 
would suggest that the Hydrogen Economy is at a similar state of potential
>
> •          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.

I would think so also. Additionally, there is the problem of the 
availability of precious metals required for fuel cell catalysts.
>
> •          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.
>
Some form of hydride might indeed be discovered, but still there is the 
problem that hydrogen is NOT a source of energy any more than a storage 
battery is a source of energy

> 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] .

In my opinion, hydrogen is, at teh very best,  a cruel joke, by holding out 
false hope for solution to energy problems. Hydrogen is not energy, so much 
as it is merely an intermediate. I also feel that hydrogen  is retarding 
true progress in renewable energy advancements, in that research monies are 
diverted into an area with relatively low success potential. With limited 
R&D resources, teh potential for "helpful advancement" is higher in areas 
other than Fuel Cell Research, and the Hydrogen Economy.

Best wishes,

Kevin
>
> Cordially. End of message.
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