19 Oct 2007
Water warning for hydrogen economy
The creation of a hydrogen economy will have a significant impact on water levels in the US, it has been revealed.
A report conducted by Michael Webber, associate director at the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Texas at Austin, shows that 19 to 69 trillion gallons of water are expected to be used as a feedstock for electrolytic production and as a coolant for thermoelectric power when a transitional hydrogen economy is in place in 2037.
This is based on National Research Council predictions which suggest annual production of hydrogen will be 60 billion kg at that time.
Drawing conclusions from these figures, Mr Webber said that the situation needs to be addressed to ensure that water resources are not stretched.
"The greatest significance of this work is that, by shifting our fuels production onto the grid, we can have a very dramatic impact on water resources unless policy changes are implemented that require system-wide shifts to power plant cooling methods that are less water-intensive or to power sources that don't require cooling," he told PhysOrg.com.
"This analysis is not meant to say that hydrogen should not be pursued, just that if hydrogen production is pursued through thermoelectrically-powered electrolysis, the impacts on water are potentially quite severe."
Accordingly, Mr Webber noted that while the use of hydrogen as an energy source has its merits, it also has its pitfalls.
© Adfero Ltd
A report conducted by Michael Webber, associate director at the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Texas at Austin, shows that 19 to 69 trillion gallons of water are expected to be used as a feedstock for electrolytic production and as a coolant for thermoelectric power when a transitional hydrogen economy is in place in 2037.
This is based on National Research Council predictions which suggest annual production of hydrogen will be 60 billion kg at that time.
Drawing conclusions from these figures, Mr Webber said that the situation needs to be addressed to ensure that water resources are not stretched.
"The greatest significance of this work is that, by shifting our fuels production onto the grid, we can have a very dramatic impact on water resources unless policy changes are implemented that require system-wide shifts to power plant cooling methods that are less water-intensive or to power sources that don't require cooling," he told PhysOrg.com.
"This analysis is not meant to say that hydrogen should not be pursued, just that if hydrogen production is pursued through thermoelectrically-powered electrolysis, the impacts on water are potentially quite severe."
Accordingly, Mr Webber noted that while the use of hydrogen as an energy source has its merits, it also has its pitfalls.
© Adfero LtdSource: Adfero