A Hydrogen Station in Every Home

Comments (4)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

1. Rhymes With Right says:

   February 15, 2010 at 2:42 pm

   Nice idea, but I have to ask how much the technology is going to cost and how much other energy will be needed to enable the conversion of water to its constituent elements. For all the talk of doing it using solar panels, the most likely way it will be used will be to hook it up to the power grid and use electricity that was produced using lots of carbon based energy. Also, what is the impact on the environment of the extra oxygen and hydrogen not bonded as water? And will our various water providers be able to ramp up their delivery systems to get us enough water to make the hydrogen?

   I’m not knocking the idea, but raising what I see as questions to be answered before mass adoption of what could be a good technology.

2. anon says:

   February 15, 2010 at 3:54 pm

   yes, i’d say a huge tank of hydrogen WOULD be killer

3. Tom S says:

   February 15, 2010 at 4:58 pm

   No problem. Obama will have plenty of nuclear energy to power everything, along with the nuclear waste…

4. Tyler Nixon says:

   February 15, 2010 at 6:31 pm

   Hydrogen will be the most ubiquitous and sustainable fuel of the future, a plentiful non-carbon based combustible fuel for which the only by-product of burning is water vapor. There are challenges to be overcome in its production and storage but nothing insurmountable. We’ve certainly conquered much higher obstacles in other scientific and technological pursuits.

   The amount of water needed to produce substantial fuel would certainly be no more of a strain on water supplies than perhaps an extra shower a week. Undoubtedly it would be nothing compared to the water needs of massive petro-based fuel production and deliver processes the world over.

   I have been hoping for years to see products come to market like the one in your post, Cassandra. Thanks for putting this up.

   Here is another example : http://www.gizmag.com/honda-solar-hydrogen-fuel-cell-refueller-electric-vehicle/14049/picture/109745/

   Not to overly linkback but here are some older posts on Delaware Libertarian with some other hydrogen developments, mainly advances in non-electrolytic hydrogen production methods, for anyone interested.

   http://delawarelibertarian.blogspot.com/2009/01/another-hopeful-development-in.html

   http://delawarelibertarian.blogspot.com/2009/03/news-from-clean-hydrogen-fuel-future.html

   http://delawarelibertarian.blogspot.com/2009/08/hydrogen-energy-future-honda-gets-it-gm.html

   It is a shame that :

   “The Obama administration [has] sought to eliminate hydrogen-station funding and instead lend $1.6 billion to Nissan Motor Co. and $465 million to Tesla Motors Inc. to make electric cars, and give $2.4 billion in grants to lithium-ion battery makers.”

   Super-efficient photovoltaic hydrogen production and solid storage will be the holy grail for fueling primarily non-commercial transport.

   Yes, a hydrogen fueling and production station in your house which, btw, could also potentially fire your furnace, be used for cooking, and power a fuel cell as a backup or supplemental electricity source.

   It would serve all home and transportation energy needs with the primary ingredients of just sunlight and water.

   But like all alternative clean energies, it need not be the be-all/end-all but part of a larger mix of sustainable energy sources that will always include some level of carbon-based fuels, like it or not.

   The clean energy future will not be as monolithic and rather uniform as today, i.e. everyone gases cars at a gasoline station, heating is primarily oil, natural gas, or carbon-based electricity. Different environments and infrastructures will dictate from free market choices by consumers adopting from an array of clean energy tech options to suit their circumstances and best serve their individual energy needs.

   It is why the government should largely be very conservative about how it funds these emerging technologies, especially no8t throwing gobs of money willy-nilly in any direction or directions based on here-and-now information or technology hyping.

   The best and most durable solutions will be created, produced, and sorted out best in practice by free, competitive markets, not government winner/loser choosing.