Promising future for hydropower to hydrogen project
Western New York is hosting a $21 million initiative to harness hydroelectric power to produce hydrogen to supply the state's "hydrogen roadmap." Officials are pleased that the process will not emit greenhouse gasses and will be a "model for meeting the challenges of global climate change." Potential sites include Niagara Falls and others operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. Hydrogen production is scheduled by the end of next year. When running at full capacity, the project could produce 120 kilograms of hydrogen per day.
[Source: North Country Gazette]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Howard Lee Harkness 2:06PM (10/06/2006)
$21 million to produce 120 kg/day? Unless you slipped a decimal point, then using hydrogen to power automobiles is even more insanely stupid than I thought.
A $21 million investment in algae-biodiesel would get you two or three orders of magnitude more usable energy.
Reply
loikll 12:13AM (10/07/2006)
Howard Lee, what did hydrogen ever do to you??
Reply
Peter 4:06PM (10/06/2006)
I'm with you Howard. I still don't understand the obsession with hydrogen. Their proposal is:
1. Generate clean hydroelectric power
2. Use electricity to produce hydrogen
3. Distribute hydrogen (at significant cost, I'm sure)
4. Convert hydrogen to electricity in automobile fuel cells
5. Use electricity to power car
Now, let's think about this for a minute. Why not:
1. Generate clean hydroelectric power
2. Distribute electric power along existing power grid
3. Power homes with clean energy, charge batteries in electric cars
4. Drive electric cars with batteries
Hydrogen is nothing but a really inefficient storage medium for energy. Yes, many researchers believe it will become slightly less inefficient in a few decades, but that does not make it better than removing the middle man altogether.
Reply
Howard Lee Harkness 11:35AM (10/07/2006)
"Hydrogen is nothing but a really inefficient storage medium for energy." -- Peter
Accurate, but massively understated, Peter.
"Howard Lee, what did hydrogen ever do to you??" -- liokll
Threatened to render the planet uninhabitable through the unintendended consequences of the actions of millions of epsilon-minuses stupid enough to buy the false claims of hydrogen supporters. I wonder sometimes if support of hydrogen isn't a secret plot by oil companies to demolish the credibility of 'green' efforts.
Reply