SNIP
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>Hydrogen could be used for storage (as in a battery). But let's not forget that the energy has to come from somewhere in the first place. Nuclear energy would be perfectly acceptable, provided the nuclear reactor is far enough from the consumers (say, 150 million kilometers / 93 million miles).

I heard an idea on the radio last Friday that seemd rather interesting... solar powered units in people's back yards, roofs, etc. that sit there converting water to H and O2, releasing the O2 and directing the H to on-site storage. Wind powered units could also be used where wind was useable. This wouldn't help where water is scarce, but it would be good everywhere else.

They went even further with the idea, suggesting that people with such units and with fuel-celled autos could optionally connect their auto to the home power source to assist running their home appliances. this could also be extended to allow them to supply their excess power to the grid to earn some cash (or credits, I suppose).

Now that some petroleum companies are starting to expand their horizons to include alternative fuels there should be less $$$-backed resistence to the whole issue. The radio program observed that the Hindenburg disaster remains the biggest obstacle because the public is wary of hydrogen since that event. My guess is that the petroleum companies helped a lot to propogate that fear.


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>Hilmar.