5 ms·

So true. Wind turbines are supported by the gas lobby because thermal power plants are needed to compensate for wind variations. This same lobby is pushing blue

So true. Wind turbines are supported by the gas lobby because thermal power plants are needed to compensate for wind variations. This same lobby is pushing blue hydrogen against green. But if wind turbines were used to produce green hydrogen, many problems would be solved : energy storage, energy transport.

pa7x1 5y ago
I think this is the way. The only way to go truly green is to install over capacity of renewables and store the excess to handle their variability. I haven't done the math but I have the impression that Li-Ion storage at that scale is not feasible or would take us too long, so I think a balance of H_2 production from excess clean production, hydroelectric storage where possible and Li-Ion will be needed. H_2 is also the only clean solution for certain forms of transportation, e.g., cargo shipping, air transportation, substitution of diesel trains and likely even heavy duty trucks. So we will need some form of clean H_2 if we want to make a clean transition in those areas. H_2 is not the devil, we must steer away from so called Blue Hydrogen (and worse forms of H_2 production). But Green Hydrogen is very likely part of the solution. At least I don't see other way out.
- duped 5y ago
  Or we can just use a proven technology like nuclear
  - pa7x1 5y ago
    I'm myself a big nuclear proponent and I would like to see bigger funding towards achieving fusion. With that said, nuclear cannot solve the issues mentioned. It's great for base-load but not great to handle renewable energy variability. For that we nowadays use thermal power stations that burn fossil fuels and can be turned on and off easier. So I agree on nuclear being part of a clean energetic mix but it can't fix the problems mentioned in the post above.
bshipp 5y ago
It doesn't even have to be wind turbines (although what you say us absolutely true). Almost every municipality/utility has peak and off-peak times where electricity must be moved around because production capacity can not be reduced any further. I've always felt that something like H2 production or high-efficiency batteries would be ideal in non-peak periods. As a former truck driver, H2 is probably the most practical from a long-haul perspective.

pa7x1 5y ago

I think this is the way. The only way to go truly green is to install over capacity of renewables and store the excess to handle their variability. I haven't done the math but I have the impression that Li-Ion storage at that scale is not feasible or would take us too long, so I think a balance of H_2 production from excess clean production, hydroelectric storage where possible and Li-Ion will be needed. H_2 is also the only clean solution for certain forms of transportation, e.g., cargo shipping, air transportation, substitution of diesel trains and likely even heavy duty trucks. So we will need some form of clean H_2 if we want to make a clean transition in those areas. H_2 is not the devil, we must steer away from so called Blue Hydrogen (and worse forms of H_2 production). But Green Hydrogen is very likely part of the solution. At least I don't see other way out.

duped 5y ago
Or we can just use a proven technology like nuclear
- pa7x1 5y ago
  I'm myself a big nuclear proponent and I would like to see bigger funding towards achieving fusion. With that said, nuclear cannot solve the issues mentioned. It's great for base-load but not great to handle renewable energy variability. For that we nowadays use thermal power stations that burn fossil fuels and can be turned on and off easier. So I agree on nuclear being part of a clean energetic mix but it can't fix the problems mentioned in the post above.

bshipp 5y ago

It doesn't even have to be wind turbines (although what you say us absolutely true). Almost every municipality/utility has peak and off-peak times where electricity must be moved around because production capacity can not be reduced any further. I've always felt that something like H2 production or high-efficiency batteries would be ideal in non-peak periods. As a former truck driver, H2 is probably the most practical from a long-haul perspective.