I just got back from the midwest renewable energy fair in Wisconsin (it's
2:00 AM, see how much I love you people?). There were a lot of people
talking about hydrogen and apart from the "free energy" kooks, the
consensus amongst the energy nerds around here seems to be that Hydrogen is
a big smoke screen that the Bush administration is using to make itself
look green. Shame really, I'd bought it hook line and sinker.
Think about all the energy conversions and associated losses of
efficiency and it makes sense. Wind, solar or hydro energy gets converted
to electrical energy which electrolyses water to create chemical energy
which is then converted back into electrical energy so that it can be
converted into kinetic energy..... Aaaaaargh! On top of that, fuel
cells use platinum as a catalyst for reaction and there is not enough
platinum on earth to put one in cars for everyone. Maybe now that Bush is
throwing money at Hydrogen the scientists will figure all these problems
out though.... now excuse me for a minute while I send another email, it
turns out that a Nigerian finance minister wants to give me millions of
dollars!
Peace
Charlie
[permaculture] Bloody Hydrogen again!,
Charles Knoles, 06/23/2003