Hydrogen — a cleaner alternative to natural gas

Charles states, “In the US, researchers are attempting to use hydrogen as a fuel for vehicles. Some are even thinking of using natural gas to generate the hydrogen. This is a hopelessly misguided effort when the natural gas can be used directly in engines and is vastly superior to hydrogen.”

To make such an incorrect statement is an embarrassment to the academic population of the country. My question to Charles is how is natural gas (LNG and CNG) vastly superior to hydrogen?

The US Department of Energy states quite clearly that fuel cell vehicles powered by hydrogen are the future of transportation.

Hydrogen fuel is a cleaner alternative to natural gas (both LNG and CNG). There is zero regulated emissions for fuel cell-powered vehicles, and only NOx emissions possible for internal combustion engines operating on hydrogen.

Hydrogen has an excellent industrial safety record; codes and standards for consumer vehicle use are under development.

When hydrogen is used in fuel cell applications, maintenance will be minimal. Hydrogen-fuelled vehicles offer the promise of a petroleum-free transportation network in the future. This can help reduce the dependence on oil by being produced by renewable resources.

Wind, solar, geothermal and hydro power can produce hydrogen fuel that is 100 percent pollution-free and 100 percent renewable.

Hydrogen can be made from water, and when burnt, turns back into water. Hydrogen can be produced by several processes, not only thermal (natural gas reforming) as Charles mentioned, but also by electrolytic and photolytic processes.

The US Department of Energy researchers are focussed on hydrogen production technologies that result in near-zero net greenhouse gas emissions and use renewable energy sources or nuclear energy. The use of natural gas to make hydrogen is, at present, the number one source of commercial hydrogen used in the United States.

My main concern in writing this letter is to ask people who have been placed in high positions to live up to the responsibilities of those positions and not communicate ideas to the public that are based on irrational personal beliefs or financial incentives.