Hydrogen economy to trigger a solar panel gold rush?

Arena and Finkel (see link to article below) are dreaming. Its not going to be a rush, it's going to become a stampede. They are extremely conservative, yet still speculate:


"The amount of new generation for the high (hydrogen production) scenario is 68THW (68,000GWh) by 2030 and by 2040 is 200TWh (200,00GWh) – equivalent to the annual output of the entire National Electricity Market."

That's how long it took for electricity and fossil fuels to become commonplace over a hundred years ago. This energy revolution will turn into an energy gold rush in less than half that time as energy retailers either stake their claim or become road kill.

We are now on the cusp of a paradigm shift away from fossil fuels, not just for power generation but also for transport fuels and fertiliser, the whole shebang. Pretty much all mans fossil fuel derived energy needs.

The dawning of an era of sub 4c kWh solar energy, efficiently turned into hydrogen to become the cheapest cleanest source of combustible, transportable, store-able energy is suddenly upon us. It will then be injected into existing natural gas pipelines to power industry or turbines, transport vehicle fuel tanks or to make fertilser, because, as the report observes;

"Countries around the world are under increasing pressure to decarbonise their economies,” the report notes. “There is growing interest in the production and use of hydrogen as a potential scalable and versatile mechanism for achieving this aim.”

But because every country is now experiencing one in a hundred year weather events in every few and people now wonder about the world they will leave for their kids, they demand affordable action. This pent up demand by voters who are beginning to see global devastation unfolding in front of their eyes will soon force Luddite politicians out of power like corks out of champagne bottles. The greenhouse gas blanket we created by gasifying the 70% carbon embedded within fossil fuels is cooking the links that hold the chain of life together. We do it to get at the embedded hydrogen, as it is the only part of the petrol, gas and coal that actually burns. But finally now there is better more affordable, non polluting energy source. It has arrived just as it is dawning on us that its not just the reef nor the countryside that will bake, we will too, unless we stop the fossil fuelled party.

“It is most likely that the facilities will be located close to the supply of renewable energy, and quotes the recent CSIRO roadmap which suggests the cost of renewables will be around 4c/kWh – and the cost of energy makes up 75 per cent of the cost of hydrogen." In other words solar electricity is turned into gas or liquid NH3 already one of the most widely transported commodities) - very cheaply. Then CSIRO technology can exclude the nitrogen and convert it back to hydrogen gas again.

AND GSL technology will make solar cells and power output even cheaper. Catching fused hydrogen transmitted via sunlight and converting it back to hydrogen. Magic.

Wouldn't you think someone in government would have the vision realise this is the way along with battery storage (we supply 60% of the worlds lithium made into batteries overseas, disclosure, I'm also a GXY shareholder) to not only store renewable energy but also pursue the very real potential of Australia becoming the next Saudi Arabia before others snap it up and sell it back to us?

https://reneweconomy.com.au/arena-finkel-lead-push-for-massive-renewable-hydrogen-exports-81819/