3 ms·

Exactly. Hydrogen electrolysis is most efficient at elevated temperatures, and that was a problem in some exceptionally cold areas. This is a development that

• thereisnospork 5y ago
  >This is a development that makes electrolysis practical in those regions. It is neither a development[0] nor does it particularly make electrolysis practical in those regions[1] (or more so than it was yesterday). Unless there is something about keeping solar cells warm that is beneficial, I'm really not seeing it.[2] >Hydrogen electrolysis is most efficient at elevated temperatures negligibly until you get into the realm of solid oxide cells (100's of C) -20 to +40 is negligible, and moreover a moot point because of [1] [0]>> The method works by using electrolytes with low freezing points, such as dilute sulfuric acid, to allow the use of water at lower temperatures. A common electrolyte for making H2, at room temperature and otherwise. Not novel (or interesting). [1]>> resulting in an interior working temperature of around 10°C. Approximately 30-40 percent inefficiency in an electrolyzer manifests as heat -- all they did here is wrap their electrolyzer in a blanket. Any electrolyzer of appreciable (read: useful) power has trouble keeping cold, not warm. The square-cube law applies here, electrolyzer power (and heat generation) scales w.r.t. volume, heat loss with area. For intuitive purposes, a device capable of fueling a car (driving 24/7) would be outputting about as much heat as that car's engine. [2]There might be, (chemistry is my meat and potatoes, more so than physics), but I've always seen the issue being more with keeping solar cells cool.