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Can't hydrogen be used as a mean of energy storage? If nuclear power is used, wouldn't that make hydrogen much cheaper and viable? It's true that it's ineffici
by jokoon 7y ago
Can't hydrogen be used as a mean of energy storage? If nuclear power is used, wouldn't that make hydrogen much cheaper and viable?
It's true that it's inefficient, but I'm curious as of how much inefficient it really it, because nuclear energy can be made abundant and cheap if you use electrolysis close to a nuclear plant.
- fmajid 7y agoStoring large volumes of hydrogen is very difficult.
- mavhc 7y agoSeems like they're storing it in the gas network, does that not scale? There's enough energy in the gas network today to power the world for a few days, seems like a great way to store excess renewable power.
- the8472 7y agoThey are mixing it into the natural gas in low amounts. High concentrations of hydrogen tend to diffuse through and embrittle many structural metals used in gas pipelines. Salt domes (commonly used to store large amounts of natural gas) might also be useful for hydrogen storage but would need to have their plumbing replaced.
- mavhc 7y agoSo you'd need a new method of storage, but the scale seems decent enough. Or could you use spare electricity to generate larger molecules?
- Baeocystin 7y agoNot true. Stick them to a carbon-based backbone and they become energy dense and easily-transported liquids at standard pressures and temperatures. The resulting chemicals are able to take advantage of massive existing infrastructure, too. (This may sound somewhat on-the-nose, but one of the biggest lessons 'hydrogen-gas-is-the-future' hype has to teach is just how useful hydrocarbons are compared to any other method of chemical hydrogen use.)
- _ph_ 7y agoThere is about 9gW of peak nuclear power left in Germany. That is a valuable contribution to keep the CO2-mix in the grid low. Using it for electrolysis would be way less efficient than other forms of storage.
- pfdietz 7y agoUsing nuclear to make hydrogen would be silly, when renewable electricity is much cheaper.
- jokoon 7y agoI was talking about storing energy, which is a tough problems for cars. The source of energy doesn't matter.
- dilekz 7y agoNO, because you waist so much energy it's insane. Look at gravity energy storage systems. Or countries where they store energy in water (also gravity based). The best way to store energy is in potential gravity energy. We should build these modules connected to the grid to buffer alot energy. Smart Grid etc. Electric cars with smart grid implementation into them would also help alot. Also these buffer hubs can even EARN MONEY. If they buy cheap electricity at daytime from solar, sell it at night for more. It's an actual business case.