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Hydrogen Fuels Destroy Earth?
Combustion Engines are a problem. Even hydrogen ones. Hydrogen is being touted as the new oil, but I have some questions:
Where Does Hydrogen Come from?
Hydrogen comes from water or from fossil fuels.
* Electrolysis of water - Using electricity, it is easy to split water molecules to create pure hydrogen and oxygen. One big advantage of this process is that you can do it anywhere. For example, you could have a box in your garage producing hydrogen from tap water, and you could fuel your car with that hydrogen.
* Reforming fossil fuels - Oil and natural gas contain hydrocarbons -- molecules consisting of hydrogen and carbon. Using a device called a fuel processor or a reformer, you can split the hydrogen off the carbon in a hydrocarbon relatively easily and then use the hydrogen. You discard the leftover carbon to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
What happens when we use up all of our water?
Has anyone posed that question?
We're searching all over the Universe for signs of water.
So what's our brilliant new plan for energy so we can drive and heat our homes?
Lets use up the source of life........ water...... ?
And there's an problem with the math when it comes to electricity to produce the hydrogen.
Where will the electricity for the electrolysis of water come from?
Right now, about 68 percent of the electricity produced in the United States comes from coal or natural gas. All of that generating capacity will have to be replaced by renewable sources in the hydrogen economy. In addition, all of the fossil fuel energy now used for transportation (in cars, trucks, trains, boats, planes) will have to convert to hydrogen, and that hydrogen will be created with electricity, as well. In other words, the electrical generating capacity in the country will have to double in order to take on the demands of transportation, and then it will all have to convert from fossil fuels to renewable sources. At that point, and only at that point, will the flow of carbon into the atmosphere stop.
In the United States, about 20 percent of the power currently comes from nuclear and 7 percent comes from hydroelectric. Solar, wind, geothermal and other sources generate only 5 percent of the power -- hardly enough to matter.
We recall that hydrogen combustion does resolve the environmental problems of fossil fuels due to excessive emission of carcinogenic substances and carbon dioxide. However, hydrogen combustion implies the permanent removal from our atmosphere of directly usable oxygen, a serious environmental problem called oxygen depletion, since the combustion turns oxygen into water whose separation to restore the original oxygen is prohibitive due to cost. We then show that a conceivable global use of hydrogen in complete replacement of fossil fuels would imply the permanent removal from our atmosphere of 2.8875x107 metric tons O2/day. Fuel cells are briefly discussed to point out similarly serious environmental problems, again, for large uses. International Hydrogen Energy Forum 2000, Munich, Germany, September 11-15, 2000 http://www.citebase.org/fulltext?format=application%2Fp...
Please join the conversation by commenting below. Combustion Engines are a problem. Even hydrogen ones. Hydrogen is being touted as the new oil, but I have some questions: ... more -
LOGGING CANADIAN BROEAL FOREST COULD DETONATE 'CARBON BOMB'
Canada’s boreal forest is a ticking “carbon bomb” and its continued logging could trigger a massive release of greenhouse gases, says a new report.
A Greenpeace study released Thursday says cutting down trees in the boreal forest is exacerbating climate change by releasing stores of greenhouse gases trapped in soil and vegetation.
It also found that logging makes the forest more susceptible to insect outbreaks and wildfires which, if widespread, could cause a spike in greenhouse-gas emissions - the so-called “carbon bomb.”
And the report says a warmer climate melts permafrost, releasing methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
As if things weren't serious enough already. Canada’s boreal forest is a ticking “carbon bomb” and its continued logging could trigger a massive release of greenhouse gases, says ... more -
As Food Prices Rise, Farmers Take Back Conserved Land
Thousands of farmers are taking their fields out of the government’s biggest conservation program, which pays them not to cultivate. They are spurning guaranteed annual payments for a chance to cash in on the boom in wheat, soybeans, corn and other crops. Last fall, they took back as many acres as are in Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
Environmental and hunting groups are warning that years of progress could soon be lost, particularly with the native prairie in the Upper Midwest. But a broad coalition of baking, poultry, snack food, ethanol and livestock groups say bigger harvests are a more important priority than habitats for waterfowl and other wildlife. They want the government to ease restrictions on the preserved land, which would encourage many more farmers to think beyond conservation.
Putting more land into production means more petroleum products used to produce wheat, soy and corn, which means more pollution, which means... Thousands of farmers are taking their fields out of the government’s biggest conservation program, which pays them not to cultivate. T... more -
Is Global Warming Killing the Polar Bears?
Real evidence of global warming. The polar bears are drowning. "For anyone who has wondered how global warming and reduced sea ice will effect polar bears, the answer is simple, they die." Quoted from Richard Steiner, a marine biology professor at the University of Alaska. Environmentalists say US policies emphasizing oil and gas development are exacerbating global warming. It is a real and imminent threat. Real evidence of global warming. The polar bears are drowning. "For anyone who has wondered how global warming and reduced sea ic... more
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Ethanol and the Unlucky 13 - thedailygreen.com
Just one more reason why ethanol from corn is not the best answer for our fuel needs. We need to look ahead before jumping head first and then suffering the consequences after it is too late. Just one more reason why ethanol from corn is not the best answer for our fuel needs. We need to look ahead before jumping head first ... more
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Keep It Wild!
What happens when land and resource use runs amuck? This catchy and fun short piece juxtaposes over-development with conserving land.
The ecospot contest inspired me to create a piece I've since honed into what you see. I also use it as an intro to my project: Land For The People that I invite you to check out http://landforthepeople.org. What happens when land and resource use runs amuck? This catchy and fun short piece juxtaposes over-development with conserving land.... more
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