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Efficiency is not really a concern if hydrogen is "produced" during peaks of some "sources" (mainly solar, wind): the surplus of energy, which today is a burde

Efficiency is not really a concern if hydrogen is "produced" during peaks of some "sources" (mainly solar, wind): the surplus of energy, which today is a burden, will be used to obtain hydrogen. Producing hydrogen may solve the "intermittence" challenge.

shafyy 5y ago
Charging batteries with solar and wind is much more efficient than producing hydrogen. Why would you not charge batteries during peaks?
- new_realist 5y ago
  Because batteries are laughably costly for long term energy storage. It’s not even close; batteries will never be used for anything but short term storage.
  - boringg 5y ago
    Untrue - long-term energy storage options are being targeted by deep pocketed capital. E.g. Form Energy and Vanadium technologies. LiON batteries can't do seasonal though - short term only.
theshrike79 5y ago
Hydrogen is a good choice for storing peak power from renewables. Distributing all that highly flammable high pressure blow-up juice around the world for consumer use is another matter.
nickik 5y ago
Its a fantasy to believe that anybody would install such and absurd amount of access wind and solar that it could both cover the low production times and enough to export for use in vehicles. That simply not economical. In fact several technologies are more likely to be used then hydrogen for grid storage.
- clouddrover 5y ago
  > Its a fantasy to believe that anybody would install such and absurd amount of access wind and solar Fantasy becomes reality: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190327-the-tiny-islands-leading-the-way-in-hydrogen-power https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190327-the-tiny-islands... https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-56279164 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-56279...
- natmaka 5y ago
  This would indeed be ambitious, however when considering that it is possible (the primary sources potential is adequate), that it will solve problems related to fuel reserves, and also a fair part of challenges related to NIMBY, overcentralization, capital intensity, pollution, waste disposal, decommission... it may (overall) be our best approach. I was writing about a less ambitious plan, which simply aims at storing the energy produced by solar/wind powerplants during peak production periods.

shafyy 5y ago

Charging batteries with solar and wind is much more efficient than producing hydrogen. Why would you not charge batteries during peaks?

new_realist 5y ago
Because batteries are laughably costly for long term energy storage. It’s not even close; batteries will never be used for anything but short term storage.
- boringg 5y ago
  Untrue - long-term energy storage options are being targeted by deep pocketed capital. E.g. Form Energy and Vanadium technologies. LiON batteries can't do seasonal though - short term only.

theshrike79 5y ago

Hydrogen is a good choice for storing peak power from renewables. Distributing all that highly flammable high pressure blow-up juice around the world for consumer use is another matter.

nickik 5y ago

Its a fantasy to believe that anybody would install such and absurd amount of access wind and solar that it could both cover the low production times and enough to export for use in vehicles. That simply not economical. In fact several technologies are more likely to be used then hydrogen for grid storage.

clouddrover 5y ago
> Its a fantasy to believe that anybody would install such and absurd amount of access wind and solar Fantasy becomes reality: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190327-the-tiny-islands-leading-the-way-in-hydrogen-power https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190327-the-tiny-islands... https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-56279164 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-56279...
natmaka 5y ago
This would indeed be ambitious, however when considering that it is possible (the primary sources potential is adequate), that it will solve problems related to fuel reserves, and also a fair part of challenges related to NIMBY, overcentralization, capital intensity, pollution, waste disposal, decommission... it may (overall) be our best approach. I was writing about a less ambitious plan, which simply aims at storing the energy produced by solar/wind powerplants during peak production periods.