Hydrogen is hailed as a new clean fuel, but little attention has been paid to the potential environmental challenges presented by the energy shift.
The sun is setting on oil and gas. Creating green income trusts could give private investors incentives to massively scale up investments in new low-carbon energy technologies — and help the province of Alberta.
(Pixabay)
Research into income trusts shows that they once helped increase investments in oil and gas. They could do so again — but this time targeted towards low-carbon technologies.
The world runs on energy, so finding low-emission alternatives to fossil fuels is crucial. Wind and solar are cheap and abundant but can't do everything. But hydrogen fuel could complete the picture.
Artist Albert Robida imagined in 1882 how air travel might look in future.
Everett Historical/Shutterstock
Ever watched a space shuttle launch? The fuel used to thrust these huge structures away from Earth's gravitational pull is hydrogen. Hydrogen could also be used as a household energy source.
The world’s first commercial hydrogen-fuelled train in Germany.
David Hecker/EPA
It's unclear exactly what mix of technologies will drive the zero-emission vehicles of the future. But in terms of 'well-to-wheel' efficiency, electric batteries outperform hydrogen.
The Loy Yang station will be the site of a new hydrogen fuel project.
AAP Image/Julian Smith
AGL has announced plans to use coal to make hydrogen fuel at its Loy Yang A station in Victoria's Latrobe Valley. Wait, isn't coal made of carbon, not hydrogen? Yes, but here's how the process works.
The proton battery, connected to a voltmeter.
RMIT
A new rechargeable 'proton battery' - made chiefly from carbon and water - promises to outperform conventional lithium-ion batteries, while also being more environmentally friendly.
What a gas: one of Moreland’s new hydrogen-powered garbage trucks.
Takver/Flickr.com
Volvo might be the first car company to go all-electric, but it's far from the market leader and petrol will continue to be relied upon.
Hydrogen fueling stations like this could become more common if materials scientists and other researchers keep pushing for new breakthroughs.
fueling station photo via shutterstock.com
There is a boom in renewable energy sources coming online worldwide, but the predominant types – solar and wind – are problematic due to their variable nature. For most regions of the world, the sun cannot…
Time to put some heat into the hydrogen industry.
Flames on a black background, Olga Nikonova
The inhabitants of a frequently cold and windy country like the UK need to heat their homes, even in what is loosely termed “summer”. This is achieved mostly by natural gas-fed boilers – but this dependence…
Back on the road: a hydrogen-fuelled car at a US trade show.
EPA/MICHAEL NELSON/AAP
We hear a lot about wind, solar and nuclear energy in the fight to reduce carbon emissions, but it seems we’ve forgotten about hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen — made by splitting water — was considered energy-intensive…
There is increasing talk of electrification of the UK’s railway network. But electrification is an expensive business, requiring much new hardware including masts, wiring, substations and so on. Such an…