Why doesnt the government introduce new sources of energy besides crude oil?

Question

By 2009 there will be a hydrogen filling staion within 90 miles everywhere in the Netherlands. http://www.ecn.nl/en/ . Hydrogen comes from electrolosis in separating the water to create a gas that can ultimately power a motor. Bio-deisel will only slow the oil consumptiion. Hydrogen wil subsitute it. By 2010 The Netherlands will have created a portable filling station powered by sunlight. Plus hydrogen has almost no emissions which is brilliant for the ecosystem. How would you like to pay only $4.00 to fill up your new hydrogen powered automobile? HYDROGEN IS ALMOST FREE. Now thats a energy worth pursuing.

Answer 1

Hydrogen is wonderful but it is not almost free.

It takes approximately 50 kilowatt hours of electricity to produce an amount of hydrogen that has the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline.

The cheapest form of renewable energy is windpower.

The cost of production of electricity by windpower is approximately 4 cents per kilowatt hour.

That is $2.00 for an amount of hydrogen with the energy equivalency of one gallon of gasoline.

You still have the cost to compress the gas and distribute it.

Fortunately it is cost competitive with gasoline at those prices, but I would not describe it as almost free and it will cost much more that $4.00 to fill up your new hydrogen powered automobile.

Answer 2

Hydrogen doesn't work, it's pie-in-the-sky. STORAGE is the #1 unsolved problem with no magic solution anywhere in sight.

Anyway what's the point of using electricity to make hydrogen? Oh yeah, so there's a way to store a lot of energy on a vehicle. Well there's already a proven technology for storing electricity energy on vehicles, it's called a battery. 300 mile batteries are not a problem. 15 minute charges are not a problem.

So come back and talk about hydrogen when you've figured out how to store 300 miles' worth on an automobile.

And as for biodiesel, it works today in the way that it works, which is wholly inadequate. However, algae could turn everything around if it's half as good as people say.

Answer 3

As others have pointed out there are problems with storage of hydrogen & fuel cells. It's all a matter of scale. The Netherlands might work as it's on such a small scale. However, we run into problems when dealing with a country as large as the US.
Ethanol works in the corn states but they can't support the states outside the corn belt. Plus all of of fields would be used for fuel instead of food.
Bio-deisel has the same production problems & even if that's solved, it puts out it's own nasty set of carcinogens into the atmosphere which need to be solved - especially when used in such a massive scale.
Even all electric cars will cause a problem with the disposal of used batteries if we go full scale.
The government does sponsor developing new sources of energy & there are several prominant labs across the country doing just that & are working on over-coming the limitations that exist in supporting new technology.
Remeber, this is America, if someone could have made a profit solving this problem they'd be doing it already!

Answer 4

Why do people like you keep perpetuating these rediculous rumors? The Hydrogen fueled car is probably more like 20 years out. If what you say is true, there would be hundreds of companies selling them like hot cakes, and people would be lined up to buy them. Hydrogen is not almost free, and is very hazardous to handle and use. It is not a simple problem. Many engineers and scientists are working on this alternative fuel. Stop listening to politicians and Hollywood, and start listening to engineers and scientist.

The H2 car you are referring to is experimental. It is one of many being tested. It uses fuel cells which are VERY expensive. I also have great hope for the H2 car, but most engineers think it is probably 25-20 years to a car that could be commercially viable.

By the way, I don't think the Netherlands is even close to 90 Miles across the widest part.

Answer 5

The last time I looked, the government had yet to produce a single BTU (or kcal, or MW) of energy, so how exactly are they going to introduce new sources of something they cannot produce.

Also where on the link you posted does it discuss having a hydrogen filling station within 90 miles of any location in the Netherlands. The only reference I can see to to hydrogen filling stations is the one ECN put in on their own premises for experimental use only, and the hydrogen at this location is produced from natural gas, not by electrolysis of water.

Answer 6

Hydrogen is NOT free. Hydrogen is NOT a source of energy.
To obtain hydrogen from water requires ENERGY. That will come from crude oil, natural gas, or MAYBE solar or wind power.

Go take a course in thermodynamics.

Answer 7

You are correct that bio diesel and ethanol will not replace oil but they will help.

I like the idea of hydrogen fuel but at the moment it still cost too much to produce compared to the energy it creates when used.
Bio diesel and ethanol are a stop gap while newer technologies like hydrogen fuel are perfected.

Answer 8

There remain significant challenges with hydrogen fuel cell design. The government does have a interesting web site on the subject linked below. I assume we need a combination of methods for the production and use of renewable non-polluting energy sources.

Answer 9

The money has to come from somewhere and the government wants to take part of the money given to the big oil companies to search for new oil supplies and they are made as hell trying to get up signatures on a petition to stop it . Me myself I'm all for it we need a cleaner energy supply but the big oil industry's are saying that we would run out of oil .The only draw back that i can see is if the government goes for it get ready to pay at the pump unless we open our reserves. I'm thinking the government has a plan that there not telling us yet to take such a bold move .

We need change granny's old ways aren't working anymore .

Answer 10

Because the Government does not control the energy production. You see, will live in a capitalistic society were the market places sets the standards. What you are refering to is socialism or could even be closer to communisim. It is not up to the US govt. to introduce anything, in order for that to happen they would have to raise your taxes to research it.