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>where lithium-ion batteries can do the job Right, so for short-term grid storage and automotive applications. How about long-term storage, chemical feedstock

• audunw 6y ago
  For air, hydrogen isn't that great either. The volumetric energy density isn't fantastic, and you need to store it in cylindrical tanks rather than just using the wings as tanks. There are several projects to make smaller hydrogen planes, but I suppose larger planes will always need liquid hydrocarbons. Considering that the very smallest planes will probably be battery-electric, hydrogen may end being squeezed from both ends of the market in the long term. For long distance sea transport, ammonia is a big competitor. Fundamentally speaking, hydrogen is not a good fuel. It's hard to handle and not very energy dense (volumetrically). What's good about it, is that we have relatively efficient ways to make it from electricity, and to convert it back to electricity. But it's possible that methods to produce/use other fuels could be almost as efficient over time. Hydrogen will be very important in the next 3+ decades, but I can see it being made irrelevant again over time, by better batteries at one end, and better ways of making/using hydrocarbon fuels on the other.
  • philipkglass 6y ago
    You need hydrogen to synthesize ammonia and hydrocarbons though. It might gradually become irrelevant as an end product, but increasing quantities will be produced and consumed close to production of steel, fuels, and other chemicals.