• frezik@midwest.social
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    2 months ago

    The studies on hydrogen pipelines tend to assume there’s some existing reservoir of hydrogen. Making hydrogen in a green way is expensive, and that completely ruins its economic viability.

    • humanspiral@lemmy.ca
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      2 months ago

      The expense part gets taken care of with OP’s solar prices. Battery costs help too.

      • frezik@midwest.social
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        2 months ago

        Not at all. Hydrogen electrolysis efficiency is about 70-80%. When turning it back into electricity, fuel cells are 40-60% efficient. That means your electricity costs are about double for the complete round trip.

        Conversely, lithium batteries (and most other types) are over 90% efficient and directly give you electrons.