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It is important to note that hydrogen, due to the small size of the molecule, is really hard to contain as a gas. Moreover, leaked hydrogen gas is an indirect b
by alwayslikethis 3y ago
It is important to note that hydrogen, due to the small size of the molecule, is really hard to contain as a gas. Moreover, leaked hydrogen gas is an indirect but potent greenhouse gas via interfering with the degradation of existing methane in the atmosphere. If we leak enough hydrogen, we might not be helping the climate very much.
I was once in a presentation which claimed formic acid to be a better alternative, but I'm not an expert in that field, so I can't comment on its merits.
- amluto 3y agoThere were some recent articles suggesting that there may be enough natural hydrogen seeping out of the ground to supply all of humanity’s energy needs. It seems a bit unlikely that leakage of hydrogen from fuel systems would matter much in comparison.
- nick222226 3y agoHow about radon, is that fissible?
- nukeman 3y agoNo, it gives off alpha particles and gamma rays. Hypothetically, you could build a device to harvest that energy (along the lines of an RTG), but the energy density and conversion efficiency would be laughable, given the 3.8 day half-life and gaseous state.
- amluto 3y agoTo be clear, I’m saying enough hydrogen to power humanity chemically, not by fusion. Enough hydrogen to power humanity by fusion is readily available anywhere :)