Author Topic: This is how we are going to get hydrogen (Read 1494 times)

john9001 · « **Reply #30 on:** September 18, 2006, 09:46:54 AM »

http://newton.nap.edu/catalog/10922.html?referrer=Google#description

The Hydrogen Economy:
Opportunities, Costs, Barriers, and R&D Needs

it's long and full of technospeak, but the title is selfexplanitory.

MrRiplEy[H] · « **Reply #31 on:** September 18, 2006, 11:25:15 AM »

Those microbes won't even need to warm themselves, just bury them 6 feet deep in _any_ landfill you find. The decomposing process of our waste produces lots of heat and tons of methane constantly.

In fact I'm surprised that this free source of energy hasn't been utilized more to date.

Tuomio · « **Reply #32 on:** September 18, 2006, 12:53:01 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
Those microbes won't even need to warm themselves, just bury them 6 feet deep in _any_ landfill you find. The decomposing process of our waste produces lots of heat and tons of methane constantly.

In fact I'm surprised that this free source of energy hasn't been utilized more to date.

You would have to collect the methane somehow, or heat. I believe gaseous (at 1 bar, 25c) energy sources are very poor candidates for future oil substitutes. And talking about oil substitutes is kinda misleading, because IMO there is no substitute for crude oil..Of course scientists have all kinds of nifty tricks in their sleeves, they can manufacture diamonds in their labs nowdays..But it takes more than that, currently the consumption is so overwhelming that it requires a miracle to keep it undisturbed. Nuclear power can keep our computers powered for long time to come, maybe few cars even, but not all of the billion vehicles roaming around the earth right now. Somethings gotta give....

Besides, its kind of uninteresting detail, what kind of material do we pump into vehicles in year 2050..Maybe its still gasoline, maybe its cow pee..What really matters is, how expensive it will be and what will happen in the 2nd class countries like China or India..

MrRiplEy[H] · « **Reply #33 on:** September 18, 2006, 01:37:56 PM »

Tuomio, we have a few experimental facilities already in Finland which collect methane and heat through embedded piping. A landfill of a small/medium finnish town can heat thousands of homes with the energy it creates.

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #34 on:** September 18, 2006, 02:01:26 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
Those microbes won't even need to warm themselves, just bury them 6 feet deep in _any_ landfill you find. The decomposing process of our waste produces lots of heat and tons of methane constantly.

In fact I'm surprised that this free source of energy hasn't been utilized more to date.

There are approximately 395 operational LFG (Landfill Gas) energy projects in the United States. In addition, about 140 projects are currently under construction or are exploring development options and opportunities.http://www.epa.gov/lmop/accomplish.htm

AquaShrimp · « **Reply #35 on:** September 18, 2006, 04:45:55 PM »

Cities have two huge sources of energy- Landfills, and wastewater treatment plants.

Both are slowly but surely being converted to energy producers. One town in Indiana is powered by wastewater.

Angus · « **Reply #36 on:** September 18, 2006, 06:06:00 PM »

While doing studies, I spent some time on a school in Sweden.
The whole habitat was warmed (AFAIK) with wastewood.

Energy concervance and utilization linked with agriculture was one of the main themes, which, I guess, explains my enthusiasm about it.