Speaking of Energy Production

By | December 7, 2004
7 Comments

Well, I was…yesterday, but you kind of have to dig for it.

Those who insist that a hydrogen-based energy economy is impractical and undoable have a lot of recent news to contend with. It looks like we’ll either find a way to do it at the molecular level or using good old atom-splitting technology.

I’m fine either way.

  • https://www.blog.speculist.com Stephen Gordon

    Wouldn’t it be great if all the problems associated with hydrogen production and transportation could be solved with a water spliting molecule?

    “Fill ‘er up with water, and I’m a quart low on Spliter.”

  • SteveW

    If one considers using a nuke plant to power a hydrogen factory just to avoid burning hydrocarbons, why not just use the nuke plant to replace hydrocarbon burning electrical plants. Burn all the saved hydrocarbons in vehicles where there already is a distribution network.

  • http://www.deanesmay.com Dean Esmay

    There are so many alternate routes to alternate energy that I remain skeptical of any one proposal until it’s actually in production.

    But, that said? I no longer fear that we’ll never find a workable alternative to fossil fuels.

  • Engineer-Poet

    With the Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative not set to go to an engineering demonstration until 2016 (!), I think we’re likely to see solar hydrogen first.  There are just so many ways for solar to succeed, from engineered chlorophyll-based systems to the ruthenium-rhodium complex to plain old green algae to systems based on activated titanium dioxide.  They can be developed in small labs and brought to production so much more cheaply, and the political and legal issues associated with nuclear are entirely absent.

    Lovely hydrogen
    So many ways to make it
    Confusing choices

  • http://www.deanesmay.com Dean Esmay

    Lovely hydrogen

    So many ways to make it

    Heh. I think you can’t actually “make” hydrogen without some sort of fusion. I think you mean “use it.”

    I know, I know, I’m being a nit-picky geek. ;-)

  • Engineer-Poet

    Geeky Dean Esmay
    Likes to pick on ev’ry nit
    Gets teased with haiku

  • Engineer-Poet

    (make that “Gets teased with silly haiku”.)