" they're gonna convert the natural gas to hydrogen and waste 70% of the energy"
The H comes from electrolysis of water. EROEI has always been the reason I don't like it, but, in this case, it's done when there is XS energy from sun and wind. From the link,
Hydrogen can also be produced through electrolysis which separates water into hydrogen and oxygen through electricity, which is LADWP's plan. Controversy around this method argues the amount of power needed to produce hydrogen outweighs the benefits, particularly if the power comes from carbon-emitting sources.
But LADWP's Intermountain Power Project has unique geological attributes that make it the ideal candidate to take on this task, according to the utility.
The plant transmits power to municipalities across Nevada and California as well as Utah, and is interconnected to 370 MW of wind, with 1,500 MW more under discussion, 2,300 MW of solar in the queue and lots of potential for geothermal as well, to power the electrolysis process.
It also sits directly above an underground salt dome that would be able to store high pressure hydrogen not immediately burned by the plant for up to a year, allowing for more seasonal dispatch complimenting wind and solar, the utility said in its presentation.
The turbines on this plant will be capable of hydrogen-mixing on day one, and will incrementally make up more of the plant's fuel mix, being capable of up to 40% from 2031-2035, 50% through 2040 and 75% until its 100% by 2045 benchmark. |
