Hydrogen power system unveiled in Maine

Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | August 30, 2006 | JERRY HARKAVY

[Ninian Dryhope]

"We've tried to resist placing a cost per kilowatt-hour on this because it would be meaningless at this point," said Peter Arnold, Chewonki's project director.

That and the cost per kilowatt-hour would be so high that it would scare off anyone who is not a confirmed tree hugger from considering it.

[Gay State Conservative]

Given that neither the Kerrys,the Kennedys nor the Cronkites live near it,this thing may actually get off the ground.

[Dog Gone]

"We've tried to resist placing a cost per kilowatt-hour on this because it would be meaningless ridiculously embarrassing at this point," said Peter Arnold, Chewonki's project director.

[riverrunner]

They resisted placing a cost per kilowatt hr on it. Why most likey the cost is so high no one would think about doing it.

[NewHampshireDuo]

At Chewonki, the oxygen produced when water is split into its two components is discarded.

If there's anyone up there who behaves like I did as a kid it won't be long before someone ties the H2 and O2 lines together.

[bill1952]

Because hydrogen is flammable, the electrolyzer and eight cylinders with an overall capacity of 2,080 cubic feet of the gas are stored in a wood and concrete shed in the woods behind the center.

Damn. - Now there is high tech for you! ;^)

[Democrap]

$250,000 for a four day backup generator for their iguana.

[xcamel]

Ummm.. doesn't it take like 6 kilowatts of energy to produce enough hydrogen for one kilowatt of fuel cell power, not to mention the couple thousand kilowatts (at least) to make the solar panels, compressor, and the fuel cell itself?

Doesn't sound very "green" to me....

[StormEye]

"$250,000 for a four day backup generator for their iguana."

Funniest damn thing I've heard all day!.

[crazyhorse691]

New technology that produces the gas at high pressure eliminates the need for a costly compressor.

---

Was doing that in the sixth grade with a pop bottle, Drano, water,aluminum foil, and balloons; made some beautiful big bangs until the sheriff told me to stop(it was scaring the livestock).

[balrog666]

Let's see if I have this down:
1. They generate electricity from solar cells (and buy some extra electricity direct from the grid),
2. They use the electricity to crack water into hydrogen and oxygen,
3. Then they throw away the oxygen, and finally
4. They run the hydrogen through some fuel cells to generate both electricity and water.

And wouldn't cutting out steps two through four be more efficient?

And wouldn't cutting out the inefficient solar cells in step one be even more efficient??

Now why did they call a press conference to tout their waste of money and resources for this nonsense???

[Holicheese]

First thing that I thought of too.
"well lets see its twice as expensive as oil and 5 times as expensive as coal! Who cares about the cost?"

[ASOC]

Les see - the cost

"three fuel cells can each convert it into one kilowatt of electricity" 3 kW per hours, so 3 kW/h output x 4 days worth of power.

Divide by system cost, which would be 250,000 somalians.

So 3 kW for 4 days, 3x 96 is 288 kW/h in the system.

So then $250,000 / 288 -- not counting the 'green power' purchases -- My Ti-1105 gives me a tad over $868 per kW/h.

Near as I can tell, these guys make Ted Stevens look the piker.

[NewHampshireDuo]

Funny thing is that Chewonki is right around the bend from what used to be a very nice nuclear power plant, Maine Yankee.

[preacher]

I read somewhere that it takes more electricity to make a solar cell that it will deliver in it's lifetime.

[OrioleFan]

When they sell this system they can no longer claim the oil companies are raping us.

[Calvin Locke]

They're lying. I bet they didn't really decommission the nuke plant in Wiscasset...

[ClaireSolt]

God save us from politicians.