Ubiquitous Hydrogen Power Not Getting Any Closer

NewScientist has a story about the "hydrogen economy" that has been resting on the horizon for a decade or more. Despite a great deal of enthusiasm for and research into hydrogen-based power systems, the technology seems just as far away from everyday use as it's always been. A British startup, ITM Power, has recently claimed a breakthrough in lowering production costs by using a nickel catalyst (rather than platinum) with a membrane small enough for home use. But, even if their method is proven and adopted, it still wouldn't address huge energy efficiency problems in the process. "The point was made forcefully by Gary Kendall of the conservation group WWF in a recent report called Plugged In (PDF, pgs. 135-149). Kendall, a chemist who previously spent almost a decade working for ExxonMobil, highlights how the energy losses in the fuel chain - from electrolysis to compression of the hydrogen for use to inefficiencies in the fuel cell itself — mean that only 24 per cent of the energy used to make the fuel does any useful work on the road."

Comments

Re:Nobody's interested

[noidentity]

You forgot to capitalize some words in your post. I've corrected most below (boldfaced), though I might have missed a few:

Thats actually Wrong... I'm not a Green freak (as can be attested by a number of my posts and the truth that real Environmentalists commit suicide to lessen their impact on the planet...) BUT: I'd love a Hydrogen vehicle... I don't care about the carbon being released by burning hydrocarbon fuels, etc... (Heck problaby more Carbondioxide released by brewing and drinking of Beer...) I think we need a way to be free of the grasp of forign powers (some not so friendly) on our Infastructure. My alternative to Hydrogen vehicles would be CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and even the CNG has home filling Units available now. and CNG is something we have plenty of HERE at home (if you're a Non-USA Reader... Pardon the egocentricity of my post.)

Wind and Solar are ok ideas, but they can't be put into my Tank...

So I put forward that for National Security and protection of our transportation Infastructure, that we need to CONTINUE to look for Hydrogen and/or CNG solutions for our Transportation needs.

I've told my representative the same, but she replied back with a form letter about how Solar is the future, etc... etc.. etc.. Even a Solar Panel on the roof of my car would probably just run the radio and airconditioning fans...

Just my .02 worth...

Re:Thermodynamics?

[Dunbal]

What about nuclear energy? That's two "energy sources".

"and nuclear energy which is finite in terms of ore and has its own refining/purification and infrastructure costs."

      Congratulations, I see you managed to read an entire line of text. Try a little harder and perhaps you can manage the second line next time.

      In case you're still reading, one could argue that even nuclear isotopes can eventually be traced back to the fusion happening inside the sun, but that was long enough ago to perhaps consider nuclear to be a "second" power source, which is why I mentioned it as such.