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Electrolysis does not produce pollution. If you are suggesting a mechanism by which it does, I would love to hear it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolys

Electrolysis does not produce pollution. If you are suggesting a mechanism by which it does, I would love to hear it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolysis_of_water https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolysis_of_water https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_splitting https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_splitting

mac01021 7y ago
The power generation mechanism you use to get the electric current for electrolysis may or may not be clean.
- willis936 7y ago
  That’s entirely the point of hydrogen fuel. The process of producing or using hydrogen does not pollute. You have decoupled pollution from energy storage. Hydrocarbons pollute by their very nature. In order to have a carbon neutral hydrocarbon cycle you need an impractical number of CO2 capture facilities.
  - TeMPOraL 7y ago
    And to add to your comment, spelling it out in case it isn't obvious: you can also decouple pollution from energy production using photovoltaics, wind or hydro - and suddenly most of your power chain is clean (what remains dirty is manufacturing the power generator and power storage).
  - TheSpiceIsLife 7y ago
    > The process of producing or using hydrogen does not pollute. There’s no way this can be correct. You can’t use hydrogen to produce the electricity used in hydrogen electrolysis, because that’s not permitted in this universe.[1] Therefore the electricity has to come from some other source, which all generate life-cycle carbon emissions.[2] 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_law_of_thermodynamics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_law_of_thermodynamics 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life-cycle_greenhouse-gas_emissions_of_energy_sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life-cycle_greenhouse-gas_emis...
    - mac01021 7y ago
      In theory you could produce the H2 off planet. Also, that tidal power looks pretty good...
ecoled_ame 7y ago
the electricity has to be generated somewhere. coal plants - pollution. hydropower plants - pollution. you might say hydropower plants don’t produce pollution, but it takes a lot of energy to build them and they pollute the environment with their mere existence, no more pristine nature.
- willis936 7y ago
  You’re explaining how electrical power generation can cause pollution, not water electrolysis (what is being discussed).
  - ecoled_ame 7y ago
    yes indeed i am, because they are related. electrolysis utilizes electricity. hence the prefix electro-. your point highlights my initial point about hydrogen fuel - ie we must look all the way up the chain and account for all polluting steps, instead of simply focusing on a single aspect.
    - TheSpiceIsLife 7y ago
      This is absolutely correct. Here’s the Wikipedia entry on the subject: life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life-cycle_greenhouse-gas_emissions_of_energy_sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life-cycle_greenhouse-gas_emis...

mac01021 7y ago

The power generation mechanism you use to get the electric current for electrolysis may or may not be clean.

willis936 7y ago
That’s entirely the point of hydrogen fuel. The process of producing or using hydrogen does not pollute. You have decoupled pollution from energy storage. Hydrocarbons pollute by their very nature. In order to have a carbon neutral hydrocarbon cycle you need an impractical number of CO2 capture facilities.
- TeMPOraL 7y ago
  And to add to your comment, spelling it out in case it isn't obvious: you can also decouple pollution from energy production using photovoltaics, wind or hydro - and suddenly most of your power chain is clean (what remains dirty is manufacturing the power generator and power storage).
- TheSpiceIsLife 7y ago
  > The process of producing or using hydrogen does not pollute. There’s no way this can be correct. You can’t use hydrogen to produce the electricity used in hydrogen electrolysis, because that’s not permitted in this universe.[1] Therefore the electricity has to come from some other source, which all generate life-cycle carbon emissions.[2] 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_law_of_thermodynamics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_law_of_thermodynamics 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life-cycle_greenhouse-gas_emissions_of_energy_sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life-cycle_greenhouse-gas_emis...
  - mac01021 7y ago
    In theory you could produce the H2 off planet. Also, that tidal power looks pretty good...

ecoled_ame 7y ago

the electricity has to be generated somewhere. coal plants - pollution. hydropower plants - pollution. you might say hydropower plants don’t produce pollution, but it takes a lot of energy to build them and they pollute the environment with their mere existence, no more pristine nature.

willis936 7y ago
You’re explaining how electrical power generation can cause pollution, not water electrolysis (what is being discussed).
- ecoled_ame 7y ago
  yes indeed i am, because they are related. electrolysis utilizes electricity. hence the prefix electro-. your point highlights my initial point about hydrogen fuel - ie we must look all the way up the chain and account for all polluting steps, instead of simply focusing on a single aspect.
  - TheSpiceIsLife 7y ago
    This is absolutely correct. Here’s the Wikipedia entry on the subject: life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life-cycle_greenhouse-gas_emissions_of_energy_sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life-cycle_greenhouse-gas_emis...