|
Home > Archive > Alternative Power sources > December 2006 > Hydrogen: a prospective fuel
You are viewing an archived Text-only version of the thread.
To view this thread in it's original format and/or if you want to reply to
this thread please [click here]
| Author |
Hydrogen: a prospective fuel
|
|
| lkgeo1 2006-12-09, 1:25 pm |
| Hydrogen: a prospective fuel
By Justin Hedani
Ka Leo Senior Reporter
December 07, 2006
Hydrogen power, although more environmentally friendly, has not yet
become an affordable alternative to oil.
=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C5=93How do you put a value on clean energy?=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=
=C2=9D asked Mitch Ewan,
Hydrogen Systems Program Manager of the Hawai=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=CB=9Ci Natural=
Energy
Institute (HNEI) of the university of Hawai=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=CB=9Ci at M=C3=
=84=C2=81noa.
The cost of gas in Hawai=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=CB=9Ci, according to a November art=
icle in
the Honolulu Advertiser, averages about $2.84 per gallon, while
hydrogen prices are at $4 to $5 dollars per kilogram at most. A
kilogram of energy roughly generates the same amount of energy as a
gallon of gas.
Ewan hosted a conference explaining the proposed State Energy Project
award-winning concept: the =C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C5=93Hydrogen Power Park.=C3=A2=
=E2=82=AC=C2=9D The park
consists of applications such as heaters or vehicles that use hydrogen
as their primary fuel sources.
The conversion of hydrogen into energy requires those applications to
accept hydrogen as a fuel source.
HNEI currently has two hydrogen testing facilities at Kahua Ranch and
at the National Energy Laboratory of Hawai=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=CB=9Ci Authority=
=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=E2=84=A2s
Gateway on the Big Island. Both facilities engage in research and
development that use renewable energy sources, such as geothermic or
wind, to produce both power and hydrogen.
Because hydrogen can be generated through renewable energy sources,
HNEI has developed ways to harvest energy when it=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=E2=84=A2s =
not being
used.
=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C5=93Hydrogen is a fuel storage,=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C2=9D Ewan =
said. =C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C5=93Instead of
throwing it away ... you can save hydrogen.=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C2=9D
Ewan presented current projects that use fuel cells and batteries that
save excess energy by using an electrolyzer to convert water into
storable hydrogen. Ewan described hydrogen as an =C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C5=93energy
currency.=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C2=9D
Ewan said that if change from oil to hydrogen is going to start, it
will start in =C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C5=93smaller systems,=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C2=9D an=
d people need to feel
=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C5=93pain,=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C2=9D the adverse effects of risi=
ng gas prices.
One of the projects HNEI has been working on is the use of hydrogen in
vehicles. Currently, several hydrogen-powered cars have been engineered
to reduce harmful emissions and use other sources of fuel than gas. The
chosen vehicle for the future project is the V-10 Ford Shuttle Van. The
Shuttle houses a 30kg fuel tank with a 150-mile range.
HNEI has been working with Hawai=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=CB=9Ci Volcanoes National P=
ark to
utilize the shuttles to transport visitors to different sites around
the park, allowing HNEI to observe hydrogen energy in real-world
applications.
Although much of HNEI=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=E2=84=A2s work is prospective, researc=
h and
development in alternate sources of energy will be essential to
reaching sustainability, especially on campus.
=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C5=93Ten years from now,=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C2=9D Ewan said, =
=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C5=93we=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=E2=84=A2ll be
getting pretty close.=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C2=9D
| |
| Eeyore 2006-12-09, 1:25 pm |
|
lkgeo1 wrote:
> Hydrogen power, although more environmentally friendly
It will never be environmentally friendly in large scale use.
> , has not yet
> become an affordable alternative to oil.
Nor will it ever. Almost everything else will always be cheaper.
Graham
| |
| nospam4me@mailcity.com 2006-12-11, 3:25 am |
| Hydrogen is not a energy source, it is energy storage. You need energy
input to produce hydrogen, there is no hydrogen deposits on earth.
| |
| Eeyore 2006-12-11, 3:25 am |
|
nospam4me@mailcity.com wrote:
> Hydrogen is not a energy source, it is energy storage. You need energy
> input to produce hydrogen, there is no hydrogen deposits on earth.
Maybe lkgeo1 thinks we can drill hydrogen wells ?
Graham
| |
| HeyBub 2006-12-17, 5:25 pm |
| lkgeo1 wrote:
> Hydrogen: a prospective fuel
>
> By Justin Hedani
> Ka Leo Senior Reporter
> December 07, 2006
>
>
> Hydrogen power, although more environmentally friendly, has not yet
> become an affordable alternative to oil.
And where does Hydrogen come from? Ultimately oil (either from cracking
petroleum or using oil to generate electricity that is then used to
electrolize water).
|
|
|
|
|