The burning of methane, natural gas, is the bridge fuel to the future when ALL electric energy is produced from nuclear power sources, despite the cringing fears of those who still believe that all nuclear plants have the potential for another Chernobyl or Fukushima meltdown and radioactivity release.
Small Modular Nuclear Reactors are somewhere in between design stages, test applications, and even some actual commercial adoption. They have the advantages of standardization, in that they may be built in a factory, shipped by rail or truck to destination, and be set up in a location close to the point of use. They are scalable and modular, so that when electricity demand expands (or contracts, an unlikely alternative) the units can be brought on line or taken off, as needed. It would be possible to minimize the reliance on grid structure over wide areas, and extend reliable, relatively cheap power to remote localities without the need for long transmission lines.
Hydrogen may be technically feasible over time, as the excess electrical energy generated may be put to use to form free hydrogen on an economically sound basis, but use of hydrogen to propel a road vehicle may still be many years in the future.
“Decarbonization” is a fake issue. Carbon dioxide is NOT a pollutant of earth’s atmosphere, but an essential part of the life cycle of every carbon-based organism that exists.
Transparent aluminum and the warp power core...that’s the future. Wake me up when we get there.