H2fromH2O – Hydrogen from water using Sunlight & algae

Photosynthesis is the basis for almost all life on earth. The first step in Photosynthesis involves splitting water into Hydrogen and Oxygen using solar power. There are some micro- organisms, as discovered in 1896 – the blue green algae Anabaena – released Hydrogen into air when exposed to sunlight in a sealed jar.

Hydrogen alone provides around 90% of the energy when fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal and wood) are burnt to release heat – the exhaust gases contain carbon dioxide and other toxic pollutants. The simple combustion of hydrogen releases heat; the exhaust gas (nil carbon dioxide gas) is pure water and a very small amount of nitrogen oxides. Most engines (petrol, gas, diesel, jet and even steam!) can be modified (and have been BMW & Ford) – to operate with almost zero toxic emissions by using Hydrogen as their fuel. Hydrogen has the advantage over electricity in that it is easily stored. Energy from nature – tides, wind and solar each has their own pros and cons, all are expensive and unpredictable. The effect of large-scale energy abstraction from wind and tidal systems has not been fully researched. Nuclear energy is positive with respect to its final nil carbon dioxide production but not when the huge carbon fuel input to manufacture the uranium fuel is considered, its waste products are extremely environmentally dangerous in minute quantities for thousands of decades.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/

Only 3 % of our worlds water is potable (not salty) at present 2% is locked as ice at the North Pole 1% and 1% at the South – the other 1% and due to the sun’s radiation, circulates as rain which sustains all life on our earth.

How much longer will this exquisite balance of cause and effect continue?

Toyota and BP are now advertising they are researching hydrogen collection from algae – Toyota’s fuel cell hybrid car is in full production. A short simplified explanation of fuel cells, which use hydrogen as their fuel. When water is exposed to positive and negative plates the current causes the water molecule to split into Hydrogen and Oxygen (electrolysis) – a fuel cell is supplied with hydrogen and the cell produces electricity, in essence the reverse of electrolysis. To replace fossil fuels hydrogen will have to be produced on a worldwide industrial scale – electrolysis is not viable, as more electrical energy is required to split the water than could be produced by the hydrogen collected – use of solar energy, algae and enzymes as detailed below, using existing technology, produces hydrogen from water is the only viable option.

In order to avoid the combustion of fossil fuels and thereby reduce our production of carbon dioxide, fossil fuels need to be replaced by hydrogen. Detailed and widely accepted calculations predict that global oil production will have peaked by 2038 and that economically viable reserves will be largely depleted between 2030 and 2050. Population growth and economic development, increases the pressure on global reserves still further, For example, if China and India were to increase their fossil energy consumption to the relatively modest per capita level of South Korea, these two countries would need additional oil supplies almost equivalent to 50% of the present world’s oil consumption by the next 3 years.

‘Thirty years from now oil will be left in the ground. The Stone Age came to an end not because we ran out of stones, and the oil age will come to an end not because we have a lack of oil’

Sheikh Yamani – former Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Oil Minister & Head of OPEC (circa 1990)

The world oil supply is expected to peak between 2007 and 2020. As a direct result of this scenario several countries including Iceland, Sweden and Norway are now working to change from oil (fossil fuelled) based economy towards an alternative, clean and sustainable produced fuel of the future – Hydrogen.

The question now is – how do we produce Hydrogen from water using sunlight?

A practical method is to harness the power of direct sunlight – which is up to 300 watts per square meter and an enzyme (Hydrogenase) in the water and collect the hydrogen released (), compress for compact storage () and transportation. Reported in 06/2002 by the Renewable Energy Laboratory at the Berkeley University in California that by starving the green algae (green yeast) Chamydomonas reinhardtii of sulphates Hydrogen gas is released (note its genome has been sequenced and the patented product increases hydrogen production at least tenfold). After 4 days of hydrogen production the algae have a very high protein content and makes an ideal animal feed. Equipment and suitable process cycle for Hydrogen production are under review to maximise hydrogen output. The bacterium Rodobacter speriodes has been used in hydrogen production from organic waste from fruit, vegetables and sewage. The Institut fur Bioverfahrenstechnic in RWTH –Aachen in Germany has developed two different bioreactors that produce hydrogen based on whey from dairy products. The University of New South Wales has calculated that all Australia’s energy requirements could be produced from a twenty-five square kilometre hydrogen conversion farm. Informed citizens will soon insist that their Governments and Oil Companies will provide them with clean alternative fuel before blue skies turn darker. Kyoto protocols for carbon dioxide emission reduction will easily attained, carbon trading and carbon burial schemes are no answer to Global Warming and Global Dimming (particulate pollution) – in combination mankind’s present greatest environmental challenge.

‘Tomorrow is promised to no one’ Clint Eastwood in Absolute Power.

robinhoodh20@tiscali.co.uk

for more details how you can help us really make H2energy4all happen.

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