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Archive:000/Hydrogen gas: Difference between revisions
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'''''This page is about how hydrogen gas could be used | '''''This page is about how hydrogen gas could be used in an all-renewable [[energy]] scenario.''''' | ||
{{considerations}} | {{considerations}} | ||
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==Energy sources== | ==Energy sources== | ||
'''Main use-case:''' Storing [[wind]] | '''Main use-case:''' Storing surplus [[wind power]].<br /> | ||
Here's why: | Here's why: | ||
* Wind power is far more intermittent than [[solar]]. Whereas solar follows a day/night cycle, windy and not-so-windy seasons can last for ''months'' at a time. | * Wind power is far more intermittent than [[solar]]. Whereas solar follows a day/night cycle, windy and not-so-windy seasons can last for ''months'' at a time. | ||
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==Status quo== | ==Status quo== | ||
* [[Wind power]] is not in surplus yet {{light|(in most parts of the world)}}. | |||
* Most hydrogen today is '''produced''' from [[fossil fuels]] ([[natural gas]]) via [//wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_reforming steam reforming]. The carbon emissions are as high as burning the natural gas itself. | * Most hydrogen today is '''produced''' from [[fossil fuels]] ([[natural gas]]) via [//wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_reforming steam reforming]. The carbon emissions are as high as burning the natural gas itself. | ||
* Most hydrogen today is '''used''' in producing [[fertilizer]]. | * Most hydrogen today is '''used''' in producing [[fertilizer]]. | ||
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==NOx emissions== | ==NOx emissions== | ||
{{sum|Manageable}} | {{sum|Manageable}} | ||
Burning hydrogen gas in air produces nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the same amount as burning gasoline or any other fuel. This happens because air is 78% nitrogen gas and 21% oxygen gas - any high temperature will cause some of the nitrogen to react with the oxygen. NOx gases | Burning hydrogen gas in air produces nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the same amount as burning gasoline or any other fuel. This happens because air is 78% nitrogen gas and 21% oxygen gas - any high temperature will cause some of the nitrogen to react with the oxygen. NOx gases contribute to [[climate change]]. {{qn}} | ||
For [[hydrogen combustion vehicles]], this problem can be solved the same way it is for gasoline or diesel combustion: The vehicle has a ''catalytic converter'' to convert these gases into harmless substances. This requires some platinum-group metals ([[#Platinum-group metals|see section above]]). | For [[hydrogen combustion vehicles]], this problem can be solved the same way it is for gasoline or diesel combustion: The vehicle has a ''catalytic converter'' to convert these gases into harmless substances. This requires some platinum-group metals ([[#Platinum-group metals|see section above]]). | ||
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{{minor|Side note: For the same amount of energy, this is still a lot more hydrogen loss than [[nuclear fusion]] of hydrogen atoms.}} | {{minor|Side note: For the same amount of energy, this is still a lot more hydrogen loss than [[nuclear fusion]] of hydrogen atoms.}} | ||
</tab> | </tab> | ||
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TODO: gather more info and then add this heading: | |||
==Climate effects of leaks== | |||
Hydrogen is not directly a greenhouse gas, but it slows the breakdown of atmospheric methane (which ''is'' a greenhouse gas). Therefore hydrogen gas leaks do have ''some'' effect on warming the climate. {{qn}} | |||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[Methane cracking]] {{light|- another way to produce hydrogen gas. Not worthwhile currently, but ''in theory'' the right tech could maybe change that.}} | * [[Methane cracking]] {{light|- another way to produce hydrogen gas. Not worthwhile currently, but ''in theory'' the right tech could maybe change that.}} | ||
* [[Energy storage]] | |||