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To: count-your-change
"I don't know how long the long run is but for the foreseeable future hydrogen just isn't going to be fuel of choice. The “Hydrogen Economy” doesn’t appear to be “Home Ec.” yet."

Well, "the long run" IMO is a time frame equivalent to the span of Homo Sapiens existence on our planet. Eventually, fossil fuels are going to be depleted to the point that accessing them will be more expensive than producing hydrogen. If we maintain a high-tech civilization, we'll need an energy transport/storage medium. Of course, who knows....EEStor might turn out to be real. Or something totally unknown today.

The only drawbacks I see to hydrogen is that 1) it costs too much to produce, and 2) its energy density is relatively low. Of course 2) is mostly relevant to transport technologies....for use in the home, energy density is much less critical.

49 posted on 08/12/2011 5:28:26 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog
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To: Wonder Warthog

We’re in no danger of running out of hydrocarbon fuels. The oceans floors have methane galore in frozen lumps, sewage is being turned into light fuel oils and there is more coal than anyone is able to mine.

Other cheap and simple technologies haven’t been fully exploited that are available right now like solar space heating, super insulation of buildings, using ground water for heating and cooling, etc. all of which would divert hydrocarbon fuels to transportation.

Hydrogen? Not likely since while it’s technology will improve so will all these others and they have a longer way to go.


53 posted on 08/12/2011 7:59:44 AM PDT by count-your-change (You don't have be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
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