4 ms·

If this holds true, and it's a big if, I guess this might be a pretty big deal for aviation as we try to hit net zero? Maybe it could also revive hydrogen in t

If this holds true, and it's a big if, I guess this might be a pretty big deal for aviation as we try to hit net zero? Maybe it could also revive hydrogen in the automotive sector but I feel like EVs have 'won' that competition. This is probably still less efficient than lithium ion batteries but there are probably all sorts of uses that I'm not thinking about. Definitely doesn't hurt to push 'all of the above' when it comes to energy storage options. God knows we're going to need everything and the kitchen sink to stop cooking the planet.

PaulHoule 5y ago
I see it being useful for chemistry. For instance you might use electrolytic hydrogen as an input for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haber_process https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haber_process if you don't just use the electricity on air directly https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkeland%E2%80%93Eyde_process https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkeland%E2%80%93Eyde_process
- ncmncm 5y ago
  It seems like the second is meant to produce a nitric acid or nitrate end product, not ammonia. Maybe introducing electrolytically produced H2 and N2 immediately would yield ammonia directly without the round trip through nitric acid? If it works, there must be a name for it. Edit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonia#Electrochemical https://newatlas.com/energy/green-ammonia-phosphonium-production/ https://newatlas.com/energy/fuelpositive-green-ammonia/ So, an area of active research. Looks like it can be produced electrochemically more cheaply than with today's Haber process, and Ajinomoto is putting it into production for their own needs. Parking one of these synthesizers under a wind turbine would produce farm fertilizer and fuel whenever the wind blows, cheaper than buying the mass-produced stuff off the dock at the factory. But they will have to start building them first.

PaulHoule 5y ago

I see it being useful for chemistry. For instance you might use electrolytic hydrogen as an input for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haber_process https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haber_process if you don't just use the electricity on air directly https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkeland%E2%80%93Eyde_process https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkeland%E2%80%93Eyde_process

ncmncm 5y ago
It seems like the second is meant to produce a nitric acid or nitrate end product, not ammonia. Maybe introducing electrolytically produced H2 and N2 immediately would yield ammonia directly without the round trip through nitric acid? If it works, there must be a name for it. Edit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonia#Electrochemical https://newatlas.com/energy/green-ammonia-phosphonium-production/ https://newatlas.com/energy/fuelpositive-green-ammonia/ So, an area of active research. Looks like it can be produced electrochemically more cheaply than with today's Haber process, and Ajinomoto is putting it into production for their own needs. Parking one of these synthesizers under a wind turbine would produce farm fertilizer and fuel whenever the wind blows, cheaper than buying the mass-produced stuff off the dock at the factory. But they will have to start building them first.