We humans are smart. There's a solution for every problem. Seems to me the trick lies in convincing the money-men to invest in a solution once the problem has been identified. If there's money to be made the investment happens. To make the investment viable the politicians need to change the rules/pricing structure. Take the aviation fuel made from hydrogen as described in the first part of this (excellent) report. If governments increased the duty fees on fossil fuel use in airliners and subsidised fuel created from Hydrogen a significant reduction in CO2 could be achieved. Do the same for cars and you're really motoring towards a clean world. Strikes me a tank of liquid hydrogen weighs less than the batteries currently installed in electric cars and energy is needed to move that mass. Hydrogen has to be better than battery cars when you consider the devastation caused by mining lithium and other precious metals. Plus, 73% of the visible universe is Hydrogen. Helium 25%. the rest is just 2%. No shortage of hydrogen is there.
Innovative solutions to a big global challenge
Coronavirus has thrust renewable energy into the limelight. In June last year it was predicted that the fossil fuel industry would undergo a $25 trillion (£20tn) collapse, while renewable energy would thrive, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Renewable energy currently makes up a third of the global energy supply, but there's a problem if demand is set to grow: storage. Many renewable sources including wind, solar and hydropower are reliant on weather and environmental conditions, so they need to be stored to provide a reliable supply. But solutions are being found. Click or scroll through some of the truly remarkable innovations companies have devised to make renewable energy storage a reality.
Frances Carruthers
25 February 2021
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22 March 2021