[carl in alaska]

Well the first part sounds reasonable for a renewable source of electricity. I'm not so sure about seperating water into hydrogen and oxygen. (BTW, I think you meant to say "package the hydrogen into easily-transportable cannisters...") It would be difficult to ship the hydrogen gas from the coastal production facilities to all the places where it would be used. That would probably require a costly new pipeline system because I don't think you could mix it in with natural gas. Shipping the hydrogen in canisters would also be expensive and not enough could be shipped to contribute much to our energy supplies. But it sounds like this idea has a lot of potential for power generation in coastal areas and perhaps the hydrogen could be used in fuel cells produced near the coast.

[RandallFlagg]

WHEW! I thought no one read that! Thanks.

I'm not so sure about seperating water into hydrogen and oxygen.

I learned that this could be done with placing electrodes into sealed (with water) areas. Bubbles form on the electrodes (Even with little voltage applied) that consist of hydrogen, and oxygen. I remember that from my 8th grade science class and thought, "It's explosive? Why not run cars on it, then?

It would be difficult to ship the hydrogen gas from the coastal production facilities to all the places where it would be used. That would probably require a costly new pipeline system

The company that jumps on this first will have a substancial niche in the market of transportable hydrogen, if done correctly.

because I don't think you could mix it in with natural gas.

I doubt that they mix well; some petroleum products explode on contact with hydrogen.

Shipping the hydrogen in canisters would also be expensive and not enough could be shipped to contribute much to our energy supplies.

Like I addressed above, the company that does it first will be the "Experts" on the matter. Once a marketable product that successfully replaces gasoline is perfected, money will be no problem whatsoever. Investors like sure things.

But it sounds like this idea has a lot of potential for power generation in coastal areas and perhaps the hydrogen could be used in fuel cells produced near the coast.

I believe hydrogen would be the fastest way of energy independance.