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this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2024
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Zero emissions at the tailpipe, sure. The problem is that the most common type of commercial hydrogen production involves massive uncontrolled emissions of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Can't beat the laws of chemistry and physics. Crack CH4 with hot H2O and you'll get your H's, sure. But you'll also get a whole lot of C's and O's, and capturing them is very unprofitable. So they all get vented into the atmosphere.
So yeah, you can safely drink the exhaust of a hydrogen car. But every top-up of a hydrogen fuel tank means greenhouse gas emissions at the source.
And that's not even getting into the leak issues (the H2 used is the smallest molecule in the universe, it likes to leak out of everything), the tank wear-and-tear issues that come with leaks (it's called hydrogen embrittlement), and the interesting politics of a hydrogen station developer trying to convince a city council that they'd like to install what is basically a rocket fuel depot in an urban area.
A lot of hydrogen produced in China is actually clean, and they do have a concrete plan to move towards zero emissions hydrogen production:
China is making less than 1% green hydrogen right now, if they really can get it to 10% by 2030 id be very happy. But as far as I can see from that report, the plan is "invent some technology that makes this more efficient". I think will happen eventually just not predictably enough to make a plot out to 2060 like hydrogen will be a good idea compared to other renewable technologies that will also advance in that time period.
But anyway China is taking green energy seriously so they might as well try everything.
You're right that there are unknowns and risks involved here. And I think you're completely right that they're trying a wide range of approaches to see what works for different kinds of use cases. I'm hopeful they figure this stuff out, somebody has to.
As far as I am aware, hydrogen production at an industrial scale through water electrolysis has simply never been attempted before. They are in a situation where by default they have to invent some technology that makes this more efficient. I think the shape and composition of electrodes is still evolving rapidly, and they’re working on reducing the rate of their deterioration.
I'd rather the money and research power be put into advancing electrolysis than soms war machine. I know it can be done. It just needs to be refined like any tech.
If they are smart and synergistic about it, they can make a self sustaining program. Once they get there, they will have energy dominance and affordability. Other nations will replicate it and it will remove the motives for global conflict.
I saw a survey that said 60% of china believes climate change is a real and important issues compared to less than 40% of Americans lol
I never read the study but I always thought the charts were funny
Once again, Americans proving themselves to be the most ignorant bunch.