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It's like saying don't build solar panels because we use petrol for them. It's a chicken an egg problem. We are using methane to produce h2 because synthesizi
by BiteCode_dev 4y ago
It's like saying don't build solar panels because we use petrol for them.
It's a chicken an egg problem.
We are using methane to produce h2 because synthesizing fuel (any fuel) is incredibly energetically inefficient. Otherwise we would be using electrolysis for h2.
Either you decide it's a problem, and you don't synthesize any fuel, or you will, and you'll oversize the energy grid and improve the synthesis process efficiency.
This thread assumes we decided we should synthesize fuel (I'm not sold, but I'm debating in that context).
If we do, then synthesis will never beat sourcing in efficiency for methane, since it's a direct process. But if there is a huge market for h2, there will be a incentive for over-sizing the grid and improving on electrolysis to the point that it can be competitive against sourcing methane + synthesize from that, which are 2 steps instead of one.
However, there is no way we can find a way to compete against sourcing methane (and no more step) alone. No good incentive to create.
- jjk166 4y agoSynthesizing h2 from methane is also done by electrolysis, it's just cheaper to electrolyze methane than water. This is fundamental - it takes less energy to release hydrogen from methane than from water, to such a degree that even though water is free it's still not economical. If you are concerned about people using fossil instead of synthetic methane to cut costs, you should be concerned about people using methane instead of water to cut costs. Either you can get people to comply with regulations or you can't.
- BiteCode_dev 4y agoFair point. I guess I underestimate how cheap sourcing methane is if it as no change of offsetting the difference in electrolysis efficiency in the future.
- konschubert 4y agomethane is not cheap, ask the germans
- morning_gelato 4y ago> Synthesizing h2 from methane is also done by electrolysis Most hydrogen is currently synthesized from steam reforming of methane [1], not electrolysis. [1] https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-production-natural-gas-reforming https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-production-na...