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Comment by bryanlarsen | Hacker News Reader

You're both probably right.

20 years ago nuclear was the best, quickest & cheapest path to decarbonization, so the fossil fuel industry would be anti-nuclear.

Today renewables are the best, quickest & cheapest path to decarbonization, so the fossil fuel industry would be anti-renewable.

And in neither decade is hydrogen the best path, so the fossil fuel industry is pro-hydrogen. Especially since hydrogen uses many of the same techs as fossil fuels and you can ramp up hydrogen with fossil fuel derived "grey hydrogen".

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In the last years plenty of online accounts started praising nuclear. Now that renewables are much cheaper and nuclear became more expensive.

Such pointless debate only benefits the fossil fuel industry.

Given how much of the conversation is manipulated by bots and paid influencers... this is really suspicious.

Hydrogen is the best path regardless of whether you accept nuclear or renewable. In fact, it is the only path, as nothing else will delivery anything like zero emissions. People forget about industrial emissions entirely and how this fully requires green hydrogen production. And in the case of renewables, hydrogen is even more paramount because of the need for energy storage.

So, where do I buy a home hydrogen storage system to store excess solar energy for later use?

Right, I can't because hydrogen in any practical density is too dangerous or expensive. Despite decades of research. It might be made and used on the spot for an industrial process but that's it.

You can buy this right now: https://www.h2networks.com.au/lavo-hydrogen-battery/

But of course, given the enormous anti-hydrogen campaign of the last decade, everything is currently at an immature level.

The link does not mention price. I searched on youtube whether someone installed it at home and talks about practical experience, all I got were promotional vids. Despite it's apparently already 2 years on market.

This does not inspire confidence, you know. It's not the "anti-hydrogen" campaign, it's lack of hydrogen industry honesty about price, features and limitations.

I've already address this point:

> But of course, given the enormous anti-hydrogen campaign of the last decade, everything is currently at an immature level.

You cannot go from zero to 100% instantly. There needs to be a period of scaling up, which has not been granted yet. This will come down in price drastically in the future. The main advantage is the lack of raw materials needed compared to a battery solution, only needing some tanks plus some electrical equipment not much bigger than what home solar people deal with.

Which raw materials? Platinum for fuel cells? But that one will continue to be issue till we can mine it from asteroids.

We are technical people here no need to hesitate to name the materials or link information.

You can buy it here: https://www.homepowersolutions.de/en/picea-plus/

Hydrogen can indeed be stored in standard steel gas cylinders.

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