Comments on: Renewable Natural Gas from CO2, Water, & Sunlight

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 18:43:00 +0000

Using electricity to crack water into hydrogen and oxygen in order to get usable hydrogen is, so far, too inefficient to be affordable.

By: Ted Williams

Ted Williams — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 01:16:00 +0000

Seems like Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies has created small toys that are powered by hydrogen split off from water molecules using solar energy – why can’t this be done on a bigger scale? http://www.gogreensolar.com/products/horizon-h-racer-2-0-with-solar-h2-station-fcjj-23

By: HyperSolar Develops Solar Powered Hydrogen Generator

HyperSolar Develops Solar Powered Hydrogen Generator — Sat, 26 May 2012 23:21:34 +0000

[…] solar company HyperSolar, Inc. filed a patent application for a solar powered system that creates renewable methane gas from water, which it has been testing out at California’s Salton Sea. Just last week, the […]

By: Jpisciot

Jpisciot — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:51:00 +0000

The big question is where are the ELECTRONS needed for the reduction of CO2 to coming from?

They mention wastewater treatment so it sounds like they are just trotting out a Microbial Electrolysis Cell with the voltage boost by PV panel. – If the electrons are from organic matter then this is not new. If electrons are from H20, it could be exciting!

Also, why waste your valuable Hydrogen to make Methane which is already abundant and cheap?

By: Charlestankersley103

Charlestankersley103 — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:38:00 +0000

The Department of Energy has sponsored research into RSOFC (reversible solid oxide fuel cells) which do exactly what this article talks about. Yes, nanotechnology would be included in the research. However, how anyone can patent this technique that is paid for, at least in part, by our tax dollar is beyond me. Sounds like profiteering to me.

Beyond that, to take the hydrogen contained in water and replace the oxygen in carbon dioxide and not have oxygen remain as a byproduct is inconceivable. Also, to say that O2 is of no value is insane, even if simply dumped into the atmosphere. But consider this, pure oxygen sells for a pretty penny to hospitals, people with emphysema, and welding shops all over the place. Even NASA uses Oxygen in their rockets.

I am more incline to believe the new claims for cold fusion (google LENR, NASA LENR, LANR, and E-cat for more info.), than I am to believe this article. I do, however, believe that the DoE sponsered research into the subject and that RSOFC’s do work to create CH4 from CO2, H2O, and Electricity from PC Cells.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:13:00 +0000

Haha, thanks for the smiles

I am cautious too, but IF this is what they say, that’s pretty cool

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 13:51:00 +0000

This sounds like a promising technology. Like Bob I’m a bit curious about where they get the amount of CO2 needed. I am also a bit concerned with the claim that they only produce H2 and not H by design, when Hydrogen is a naturally occurring diatomic molecule existing as H2. I hope that this isn’t one of those “too good to be true” shams that seem to be popping up these days. (research money and all that).
If this turns out to be a “real” technology it will certainly be a welcomed weapon in the arsenal that will ultimately defeat our unsustainable energy production paradigm. (Sorry for the military analogy but this issue is turning into a REAL fight and I woke up in a dour mood today) {I know, no one gives a hoot what my waking mood is, but if we fail in this fight everyone will find themselves caring about energy production} As most readers here know the problem isn’t a lack of energy, it’s not using the free non-polluting energy that is readily available (no mining or drilling) needing only to be utilized.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:38:00 +0000

HAHA

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:34:00 +0000

Pure renewables. Actual renewables.

vs.

Ersatz renewables.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:16:00 +0000

I don’t think will drive us there. It won’t be long before it makes more sense, by everyone’s standard, to just go “pure renewables” — can i coin that term?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:11:00 +0000

“But we can’t shut down the XYZ coal plant! That would put the unnatural gas plant out of business and we couldn’t grill our steaks!!!”

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:08:00 +0000

yeah, but you and i know that it will still be a long time before they stop burning coal. if these guys have found a way to cheaply use the CO2 created, that’s pretty sweet

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:43:00 +0000

The big question – where is the CO2 coming from?

Very unlikely they are using atmospheric CO2. Concentrations are too low for industrial purposes.

Very likely they are sucking CO2 from a fossil fuel smokestack.

Getting double use of the carbon and thus leaving a bit of oil underground is a net gain. But the real goal is to leave all sequestered carbon underground.

How about we just switch to renewable energy, EVs and biogas for the liquid fuel that is absolutely required?