Might also convert the H2 to methanol for fuel cell apps, and ammonia for fertilizer production. Both of these tend to rely on cracking CH4 into alternate uses. Having the H2 readily available, one could pull the C or N out of the atmosphere.
Eventually, you could have an industrial complex in the midst of a desert, pumping out electrons, methanol and ammonia. All of which are then piped to end users. Oops, one problem. The desert lacks water. Ideally, ocean water could be tapped, unless coping with brine introduced problems. Fresh water is limited in supply.
If it weren't for the worldwide readily available natgas, we'd probably already be doing this. Plants (ie AGU in alaska, MEOH in new zealand, GRO in ms) that relied on cheap feedstock are shutting down or facing input capacity constraints.
This first order change merely means relocating production to alternate feedstock sources, ie trinidad or qatar. The second order change will require a technology shift- the creation of the feedstock. Nuclear cogen is one approach.
Ultimately, it boils down to energy and entropy. Creation of the fuels society relies upon today requires input energy to overcome entropy. To reverse the traditional breakdown of complex stores thus releasing energy stored in chemical bonds.
Solar is earth's primary energy input. Some form of direct or indirect Solar, or Nuclear, must supply that energy. |
