Screw the oil industry/clean energy wank

Uh, no. AIUI, this presupposed mixing hydrogen with something else, & turned into bricks.
When you mix Hydrogen and Carbon, you get easily transported gases and liquids...

And if you add Oxygen, you get C6H10O5, a solid called cellulose
 
When you mix Hydrogen and Carbon, you get easily transported gases and liquids...

And if you add Oxygen, you get C6H10O5, a solid called cellulose
Why am I thinking of Ben Braddock?;) ("You're trying to seduce me, Mr. Flagler. Aren't you?")

More seriously, IIRC, it was a nickel hydride that was meant.
 

kernals12

Banned
Noted, but he did at least have a practical experiment going, and in Egypt at that, so it would have been noted by the British.
There have been lots of practical experiments in solar power in the last century. But they've all been wickedly expensive until very recently.
 
There have been lots of practical experiments in solar power in the last century. But they've all been wickedly expensive until very recently.
Yeah, but trying to set up a steam engine where he did would have got pretty expensive too, in fuel transport costs.
 
OTOH you can get a triple expansion steam engine anywhere. I am not sure how a solar system for sunny Egypt would go in Europe.
 

kernals12

Banned
Yeah, but trying to set up a steam engine where he did would have got pretty expensive too, in fuel transport costs.
At least the steam engine works at night.
On a similar note, many farmers got electricity from wind turbines before rural electrification made it obsolete.
 

kernals12

Banned
"Kill the car industry"? "Only nuclear"? Really? So run-of-the-river hydro is impractical anywhere? Ocean thermal is impossible (especially at high latitudes)? Solar power satellites are impossible?

Motor fuels from other sources than oil are possible, not least algae oils or hydrogen from ocean thermal.

Generating methane from landfills would be a good start.
Most of the sources you listed are incredibly expensive. And hydropower has already been developed to the max in many countries.
 

kernals12

Banned
France's 1880s experiments with solar steam power lead to (primitive) solar panels by the 1920s and solar providing 1/4 of energy by the 50s or 60s.
How do you get solar panels before the invention of semiconductors? And why would you assume it'd only take 30 years for solar panels to become economically feasible? IOTL it's taken 60 years from the invention of the Solar Photovoltaic cell in the 50s for it to become competitive.
 
At least the steam engine works at night.
On a similar note, many farmers got electricity from wind turbines before rural electrification made it obsolete.

But those early turbines were very low powered.

a LeJay 32 volt, 600 watts unit with a 2 blade, 7' propeller was $65.95 with 6 foot stub tower, the 242 Ah battery an additional $131

The Air Electric Machine used a two blade, 12' Propeller for $298 for its 32 volt and 1250 watt head and 280 AH battery bank, tower extra

This was good enough for lights and running a radio. electric appliances were made for 32volt, but you could only run one at a time
 
How do you get solar panels before the invention of semiconductors? And why would you assume it'd only take 30 years for solar panels to become economically feasible? IOTL it's taken 60 years from the invention of the Solar Photovoltaic cell in the 50s for it to become competitive.

I assume that the system works by heating water and turning a turbine. It can work but there are a lot of issues.
 

kernals12

Banned
First hydrogen engines were produced in 1806, first vehicle in 1863. You don't need fuel cells to use hydrogen as a power source.
If you want your vehicle to go more than 5 yards, you need the efficiency of fuel cells. Hydrogen has a very low energy density, even in liquefied form.
 
If you want your vehicle to go more than 5 yards, you need the efficiency of fuel cells. Hydrogen has a very low energy density, even in liquefied form.

BMW's Hydrogen 7, with 260hp V-12 engine, had +200 KM range. I would imagine that with less outrageous chassis and performance the range could be a lot higher. And of course, fuel cell development would get a boost.

And of course, prinicipally hydrogen economy would not cut out alternative forms of propulsion. EV's would compete with them, and biofuel could take the role of oil in needs which could not be served with hydrogen, such as aviation and military uses.
 

kernals12

Banned
BMW's Hydrogen 7, with 260hp V-12 engine, had +200 KM range. I would imagine that with less outrageous chassis and performance the range could be a lot higher. And of course, fuel cell development would get a boost.

And of course, prinicipally hydrogen economy would not cut out alternative forms of propulsion. EV's would compete with them, and biofuel could take the role of oil in needs which could not be served with hydrogen, such as aviation and military uses.
The tank also took up a lot of trunk space.
EVs are a nonstarter in a world of lead acid batteries.
Biofuels are expensive and corrode engine components.
 
The tank also took up a lot of trunk space.
EVs are a nonstarter in a world of lead acid batteries.
Biofuels are expensive and corrode engine components.

True, but instead of sedan you can make your car a station wagon, van etc. where the inner volume is not such a decisive factor.
 
Top