Hydrogen and the appliance of science

Oct 6 2008 Ian Johnson

Hydrogen and the appliance of science

THE boss of an energy company has answered a question that has been bothering me for a long time.

If we have hundreds of wind farms to produce electricity what happens when we go through periods of still air?

Jim Heathcote, CEO of ITM Power, said that for every wind farm built there have to be additional conventional power stations to supply electricity for days when there is no wind. The plain fact is that wind is intermittent and will not bridge the energy gap we are facing.

The problem is actually retaining the excess electricity the wind farms and solar energy sources produce on 'good' days.

So what has this got to do with motoring? The answer is hydrogen. Converting the naturally generated excess of power into hydrogen gas through an electrolyser is an important option in the quest for a fuel for the future

Hydrogen can be used to power domestic appliances and as a fuel for cars, trucks and vans.

I have a feeling that this formula could be the way ahead for the private motorist. I am not a fan of purely electric cars with their restricted range, but hydrogen with its fine performance possibilities does seem to be the more practical appliance of science.