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If we're going to start using power to create liquids to burn again ("power-to-X-to-power") why not make those liquids carbon-free? Hydrogen is one option. Amm
by semi-extrinsic 7y ago
If we're going to start using power to create liquids to burn again ("power-to-X-to-power") why not make those liquids carbon-free?
Hydrogen is one option. Ammonia is another. Both can be burnt in engines, and have zero CO2 emissions.
- readams 7y agoIt is carbon neutral to make hydrocarbons and then burn then as long as the energy source for making them is carbon neutral. The hydrocarbons have the advantage of far higher energy density, which makes them much better as fuels.
- black_puppydog 7y agoMore energy efficient maybe. But I'd much prefer a city where every of the (hopefully few) car/scooter engines is either electric, or the exhaust spews water vapor.
- hkeide 7y agoPlugin hybrids would solve a lot of this problem. Battery can be ten times smaller and no range anxiety for much of the same benefits as fully electric
- PaulAJ 7y agoHydrogen has huge practical problems with storage. Ammonia is an interesting idea, but direct combustion isn't practical due to NOx emissions and low temperature, and ammonia fuel cells are still at the lab prototype stage. The toxicity of ammonia is also an issue.