>>In fact, I think I read
>>somewhere that you would have to DOUBLE the US
>>electrical power generating capacity if you were to convert
>>automobiles to fuels cells that use hydrogen derived from
>>electrolysis. This is the real challenge of the hydrogen
>>economy. Find a way to produce hydrogen in abundance
>>with non-polutting renewable sources. Sounds easy -
>>does hard.
>
>_________________________________________________________
>
>I agree with nearly all your observations Michael, but I take issue with
>the one above. You're right to be negative about hydrogen *IF* we use
>fossil fuels to create it, but there is a much better way. Massive
>solar cell arrays could generate electricity which could be used to
>split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The technology has been known for
>decades, in fact I've even done it in my garage. Works great, and solar
>power and silicon are literally as common as dirt.
The problem is energy density, not availability. Hydrogen, being the
lightest element, is also the hardest to confine and requires the largest
volume for a given equivalent energy density. The resulting inefficiencies
take a big bite out of "well to wheel" energy transfer. There is an
excellent and timely article on the subject in this month's Scientific
American - highly recommended and understandable to all readers.
73, Ward N0AX
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