A Pollution-Free Fuel Alternative?

As I recall, the pollution caused by hydrogen fuel comes from the production, rather than the combustion. If the energy comes from renewable sources, then the entire system must be more energy efficient than the current alternative for it to be viable. For example, if the energy were coming from wind turbines feeding directly into the power grid, then the chain of hydrogen production, storage and utilization must be more efficient than say charging a battery and running an electric car.

Hydrogen has a number of properties which make it somewhat unsuitable for a fuel alternative, at least in a conventional sense. Its density, at all pressures is quite low, making energy density an issue; its small molecular size making it difficult to contain (especially at pressure) with any other material; and the difficulty in refining it.

Unless a more energy efficient way of producing hydrogen can be derived, i think that the issue of storing hydrogen will have little impact on society.

I understand that this may just be one persons opinion, however to me, hydrogen energy is on par with "free-energy"

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-hydrogen-storage-material-added-fuel.html reports that "the encapsulated hydrogen could be safely used in either an internal combustion engine or fuel cell". It is widely reported that this nano technology will make an entry in to commercial market with in three years as an alternative to gasoline for powering automobiles and aircrafts with the minimum modification to the existing vehicles, with almost no pollution and at fraction of the cost.

Take four hydrogen atoms, add one carbon that we are trying to get rid of anyway, add energy with a catalyst, then you have methane that is easy to compress and use.

This solves the hydrogen storage problem, and give you a way to store the peak production of wind mills or solar panels. It also give you a market for all the carbon capture that might be done eventually (recycles the carbon).

All you need is someone to develop a, self-operating plant and you could produce your own fuel from any surplus energy.

On top of it, it is complementary to the fermenter that will be used to convert your organic wastes into compost.

You can also use this in Greenland or Hawaii with geothermal energy and they become liquid methane exporter for the world.

Approx one gallon of gasoline is close to one kg of Hydrogen (at higher heat value). But 1 kg=11.13 Nm3.(0'C and 1 atmosphere). Compressed storage and transfer is major issue. I gather when Solar module becomes $1/w peak and electrolyze r costs< $125/Kw, Hydrogen may be an alternate fuel. But Fuel cell route is the option as it seems. Making methane is another option as stated by one post, but how to do it without use of fossil fuel energy needs evaluation.

Hydrogen does not occur naturally and causes a lot of pollution in its manufacturing process, so can not be a pollution free alternative. If the purpose of the Hydrogen is to make ELECTRICITY from a Fuel cell, then I noted that some bright spark recommended we use Water to create hydrogen, for the fuel cell by Electrolysis. Now the purpose of the fuel cell is to make ELECTRICITY so why would anyone use ELECTRICITY to create Hydrogen from electrolysis, to make ELECTRICITY. If you already have electricity to make Hydrogen, then just use the electricity that you have and throw away the fuel cell. It takes 6 fuel cells to make enough electricity to provide enough Hydrogen for 1 fuel cell.