Environment & Energy

There are multiple ways to “generate” it, by breaking down “compounds” which contain it.

https://extension.psu.edu/unraveling-the-hydrogen-rainbow-green-blue-and-gray-hydrogen-production

The way favored by most hydrogen proponents involves splitting good old H₂O (water) into H₂ + O₂ typically, using electricity from some renewable source. This is sometimes known as “green hydrogen.”

In the US, most hydrogen is currently generated by processing CH₄ (methane) with H₂O (water) to produce H₂ + CO₂. The CO₂ is easily captured (so-called “blue hydrogen”) but most frequently is not (“gray hydrogen.”)


In theory, pure hydrogen may be produced from wells “geologic hydrogen.”
https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/usgs-colorado-school-mines-establish-joint-industry-program-explore

There are multiple ways to transport hydrogen. Just as we use pipelines to transport natural gas, you can use pipelines to distribute hydrogen. Europeans have a different way of thinking about hydrogen than “Americans” typically do. While “Americans” say “it can’t be done” the Europeans simply do it.
https://www.ehb.eu/page/european-hydrogen-backbone-maps

However, in the case of “green hydrogen” you can produce it anywhere you have water and electricity. All you need is an electrolyzer:

Typically, people think about hydrogen being used in cars, trucks, trains.


https://electrek.co/2024/06/30/walmart-first-retailer-in-north-america-to-deploy-hydrogen-semi-truck/

But a stationary fuel cell, with a supply of hydrogen can be (and is) used for backup power. Hydrogen can be generated using intermittent renewable power (solar, wind) and then used to generate electricity when needed (like a bank of batteries, but not as efficiently.):


One popular use for hydrogen is in “lift trucks” (AKA “fork lifts.”) Like battery power, you can run them indoors without generating nasty fumes, but it actually is preferable to batteries.




Well, we could do all of those things, if only it were possible. Right?