this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2024
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I'm very confused. About a year ago I saw a YouTube video describing the use of hydrogen as a replacement for fossil fuels.
It went into great detail about the effectiveness and impracticable restrictions on distribution of pure hydrogen, mainly because its extremely small molecules leak through pretty much everything and compression is required to carry any useful quantities around, not to mention storage temperature and refuelling issues.
This was contrasted with using ammonia as a hydrogen delivery mechanism instead. We distribute and transport ammonia around the planet in great quantities already. The chemical process is green, uses significantly less energy, and we already know how to do this.
What I don't understand is why we're still talking about pure hydrogen, doing studies about cooking and still trying to promote this as a great fuel, when better, more effective ways exist.
Anyone?
More information here: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2020/11/ammonia-to-green-hydrogen/
The study hasn't been peer reviewed, so shame on the authors for talking about it like it's already decided, but the skeptical part of me can't rule out that this whole thing was destined to fail on purpose.
Big Oil: "See? Hydrogen doesn't work ~~in unmodified systems~~! Shucks, guess we'll have to keep using natural gas..."
And maybe it's less nefarious, like additional proof that we can't just retrofit existing systems by changing the gas mixture, but it's at least suspicious that it benefits fossil fuel producers so neatly.
Big oil has been the primary force pushing hydrogen, because they make most of it, from cracking fossil fuels products. It's complete green washing.