Tim, I've been spending a bit of time over the past year becoming familiar with some of the technologies involved in Alt-Energy.. With regard to storing hydrogen, there is already technology, which is used in GM's Equinox Fuel Cell vehicle that stores H at 10K psi. The tank is produced by QTWW and has been tested as bullet proof against .30 cal armor piercing rounds. That's a pretty tremendous achievement. And considering that FC's are about twice as efficient as reciprocating engines, that drastically increases their range options, as well as the safety concerns that might be prevalent in a switch to Hydrogen. And the added benefit is that those very same tanks could be used to store NG.
We will have to import natural gas.
Yes.. to an extent, but our sources of supply will be far more secure since the majority of our NG imports come from Canada. And I like Canadians, so I don't mind sending USD's their way.. They tend to buy American goods anyway.. ;0)
tonto.eia.doe.gov
And we have tremendous reserves of NG domestically available:
naturalgas.org
The primary problem with a transition to a Hydrogen economy is how to produce it in large quantities. Reforming technologies, from which Hydrogen is derived from NG, is not the solution. It must be produced via Electrolysis, preferably from either dedicated nuclear powerplants, and/or solar. Furthermore, a tremendous amount of hydrogen is used in the petroleum refining process, which would be "unlocked" by a reduction in gasoline useage.
There is one other point that I omitted. The growing technologies related to biodiesel and Kerosene derived from algae is also a emerging technology. This is the manner in which we should be focusing our research into biofuels, and moving away from this inane ethanol policy which competes with food sources. The technology is there to grow Algae in large quantities, but it lacks sufficient financial support to bring the technology to commerical viability.
Suggest you regularly visit this website and keep abreast of the latest and greatest regarding alt-energy developments:
nextenergynews.com
There is no doubt that substantial resource will need to be allocated to foster this transition to alt-energy. And there is definitely private market failure with regard to accomplishing this. But given the national security issues that are at stake, I believe this is one area in which the public sector (government) should make the necessary funds available. I consider it a worthy investment in our energy and economic security, and give us more flexibility in our foreign policy.
But if anything, it keeps that money here at home, and not in the hands of nations/entities that might use it as a weapon against us.
Hawk |
