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Funny you say that. IMO, politicians love a gimmick, and talking "Hydrogen" with apparent knowledge (ignorance to you & me) is quite popular.
But on a different note: Our company. Of course it should stick to a plan (a la Dennis) but I just ask:
if EV will use H2, they need little reverse electrolysers (I plead ignorance of the design) - then there should be a small technology group within ITM learning about this.
Any of you guys who Linkin with Dennis, might suggest it (??).
Motive power. It is a wonder the i.c. piston engine works at all, a miracle it's as good as it is. But the electromagnetic needs ultra-close tolerances between stator and rotor, only achievable in recent times.
I have always, somewhat blindly, been keen on the H2/electric vehicle. Reflecting on this, it seems to make best sense for simple back-to-base machines.
What I don't like is (a) batteries, (b) on-board power source. Of course, they are necessary.
But think of the energy that goes into making a battery, starting with splitting the Li+ salt into its ion. I could work it out but it would be meaningless because I don't know how much Li goes into what battery. On top, there is all the mining, transport, human energy (China), creation of the final product. So how big a battery do you need for the Yaris?
Next, putting an electrolyser into the car - think what happens to cars - treated as "throw-away" nowadays. Why do I wonder? Well, if you had a "car's worth" of platinum (or palladium) as a watch, you would be in Football player company.
There is no cheap way to get platinum for the electrolyser. Remember, cars are complex by demand. If the electric power was used just for moving (OK in a bus), it would be OK perhaps - but the complexity of a modern car using electricity like mad for everything on top of mere movement explains why my VW runs its battery down despite my best efforts to switch things off.
So in conclusion, I see no reason to move quickly away from what works: it makes most sense to me to go for big vehicles with H2/Pd stack/electric motors. And yet, Alstom have given up on their H2/electric train. (Of course, plod on with Yaris - hats off to Toyota)
At long last...("Finally they get to my way of thinking"- I joke). It might be too late.
Good news? Good riddance!
Just adding:
CCS is quite well discussed on Google. As you say, beset with question marks even before you bury it. (Capture from flue, build the pipes, pump it, bury it. All need energy.) Then it escapes unless maybe its put into a volcano - agreed ++!!
But what is missed is unobserved leakage into the sea. The hydrogen ion concentration of the ocean has risen ~25% over the last century. It means reefs, shellfish die because the carbonate won't stick. But it affects other soft tissue species.
The behaviour of political leaders is nothing other than criminal.
Seriously, guys, anyone know about how the local gas grid is made up? Round our way, its some sort of high density polypropylene (or something of the sort - stiff but slightly flexible). I cannot discover if H2 diffuses through it, or if its affected adversely (I suspect not).
My guess is there is diffusion but not significant. And is there a standard gas pipe material?
...before natural gas, coal gas was used in homes & was 50% exactly H2.
Today: The head of Toyota’s hydrogen business, said the company had so far received global orders for 100,000 units of Mirai’s hydrogen system by 2030, mostly for commercial vehicles. (Refers also to shortage of supply of Green H2 and of filling points).
Of course, H2 is safer than petrol & CH4 (though only a handful of people - such as we - seem to know) but OTH, it uses a lot of power, overall, to turn an electric motor - gas fired power stations best at about 35% conversion (you can argue for wind etc generation), water stack to H2 and back 2 x 78% (~60%), electric motor 90%, so thats
Just adding: Linde were involved with an Australian Govt organisation (WA) to see if H2 could be made there. But it has gone silent. Not sure if its still in progress.
Its not really new. Cummins bought Hydrogenics (Toronto) years ago. They are planning to use nearby Niagara for H2 production. (I am a bit confused by this because I think Plug is involved there but maybe just using the electricity for its own H2). But anyway, Cummins have been looking at using H2 for power for some years. They are involved with Alstom for a H2-Elecric train in Germany. Small scale so far. But also - which must be relatively simple - supplementing diesel i.c. engines with an injection of H2. This gets round the ridiculous battery problem for large vehicles (as long as some busybody doesn't outlaw piston engines from the comfort of his/her ivory tower).
It doesn't affect ITM.
Mixing it with Mott. An even better conversion of water to gas. But for the future. Does seem a valid move by Dennis.
...we are advocating for their exemption from the PFAS regulation,” a spokesperson for Hydrogen Europe said.
I hate this. It is nothing to do with ITM, but "ad - voc- ate" is a long Latinised word meaning: "towards, concerning - speak - do, act". So you "advocate something", you don't advocate "for" something. Idiots like long words but be better if they undarstood them. Maybe say "argue"?
Arthur Pode posted this as a link and it is very accurate.
In Sheffield, ITM has been seen as a bit of a joke because it has mopped up huge numbers of people, skills uncertain, for generous pay. Being Yorkshire, spending money you haven't got it dimly viewed. A good contact, middle management in one of the very successful engineering firms, moved to ITM. He left after 9 months, frustrated and unhappy, because there was no plan, decisions ad hoc. (My experience with them was "bad news"). So I had read the FT article & saw its reference on this Chat.
Dennis S has identified probs, including over-manning. I can believe he will succeed. But I still don't think ITM has the two or three Ambassadors (aka salesfolk) they need to ensure they have customers when in the future they feel the have a product. IMO, this is a big error. Yes, chuck out a third of the workforce, yes, focus on reliability, yes, focus on stacks not wooden crates, etc. But get some salesmen to wherever there is Green electricity (and no guns).
A bit of the article is here :-
The new boss of ITM Power has vowed to turn round the UK hydrogen start-up, overhaul a culture of “overconfidence” and regain the trust of investors and customers after the company became London’s most shorted stock.
Dennis Schulz, who arrived at ITM in December from the engineering arm of Linde, its biggest investor, has laid out a 12-month plan to revive the Sheffield-based maker of hydrogen-producing electrolysers, which has issued three profit warnings in the past year.
“ITM was constantly in that mode of constantly fighting or putting out fires, which were emerging everywhere,” he said in his first media interview since taking up his new role. “Now we are slowing down and not looking for short-term fixes.”
Rachel Reeves' plan, based on her Washington speech, includes heavily supporting Green Tech with subsidies and Tax concessions. This is good news as long as it doesn't prolong the confusion that characteristic of ITM's managers. (Sadly its a couple of years away).
At school, it was Mean Effective Pressure
Surprised at this: NH3 has its place but it is a most dangerous gas - as you well know, most gases, CH4 or H2 are harmless unless ignited. But a mere leak of NH3 is problematic (bronchial spasm might kill someone from one whiff). IMHO, when shipping becomes a reality, the big freezing vessels presently used for CH4, will be ready and waiting.
Most of their blurb is excited chatter. Best I can understand is that Kintore will generate hydrogen - but what then? Silly cartoon of pipes to factories in England (dream on). Hint that they will send H2 down gas pipes. If so, I doubt half will arrive, H2 being what it is.
I mean, generating H2 is a good first step. But I am not sure what they will really do with it in the medium term.
Still, if ITM sells them plant, good for ITM/you & me.
ITM was , over-manned, had some poor quality people, overpaid, hubris.
That might be changing with this washout. I now say "weak buy".
"Hydrogen can't be liquified at room temperature.." Too right! And liquifying it at present uses ~40+% of its energy value. Linde think they might get that down to about 35%.
Separately, I think its likely that large compression ignition engines will be supplemented with direct H2 injection. This might create exhaust ammonia! but thats a minor problem. It would make sense to use all the diesel knowledge/infrastructure, nowadays politically unacceptable.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/germanys-energy-crisis-powers-hydrogen-switch-2022-12-29/
"What happened to all the work in Germany?" Indeed!
ITM was in the forefront - now one of many - and disorganised.