Las Vegas opens solar powered hydrogen generating and filling station
When it comes to utilizing solar power, being in a desert is a good place to be. That makes Las Vegas a prime location for solar applications. The Las Vegas Valley Water District and the UNLV Research Foundation have opened a solar-powered hydrogen generation and fueling station. The Vegas Water District wants to have a one hundred percent alternative fueled fleet by 2015 and part of that includes hydrogen. Already today seventy seven percent are hybrids, compressed natural gas and biodiesel. The system uses solar panels that track the sun across the sky during the day, with the electricity being used to electrolyze water for hydrogen production and storage. The water department currently has two vehicles retrofitted to run on hydrogen, one internal combustion and the other with a fuel cell. While Las Vegas is well suited to solar power applications, it is seriously lacking in water which makes this a dubious choice for this location. Coastal locations that could utilize solar power for a combination of desalination and hydrogen production are a much better choice for such an application.
[Source: Las Vegas Valley Water District]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 6:14PM (4/16/2007)
2 hydrogen vehicles and this Solar Electrolyzer when they could just use the electricity in a BEVs and be 400% MORE efficient???
Look at the facts:
http://www.physorg.com/news85074285.html http://www.oilcrash.com/articles/h_scam.htm
Just how much taxpayer money is the Las Vegas Valley Water District flushing down the Hydrogen sewer? Oh that's right. It's not THEIR money. If they waste it, they can just EXTORT more taxes. Hey everybody... FREE MONEY! As Mel Brooks says… “It's good to be the King!”
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Chris M 9:21PM (4/16/2007)
They expect to have 100% "alternative fueled" fleet by 2015. By then, the H2 fuel cell would have expired of old age and the H2 IC would have demonstrated insufficient range.
The solar panels will be charging electric vehicles and contributing to the grid, and the rest of that obsolete H2 stuff will be quietly dismantled.
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Tim 10:22PM (4/16/2007)
Chris M- I guess they will be running with more than just their tails between their leggs. Hydrogen comes from what? Damn rotten greenhouse gasses...
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