Have you heard the latest about wind turbines and hydrogen?

Question

My husband works on the commercial wind turbines. We get to read all sort of interesting articles/magazines put out for those who work in the wind turbine industry.

They now have a working prototype of a wind turbine that not only produces energy, but also produces hydrogen. Of course this is on a wind turbine based in the ocean. The prototype is near Denmark.

Wind turbines generate power via the wind. The power is then trasmitted down power lines, and into the power grid. Sometimes wind turbines are generating too much power for the power lines to be able to accept, because the wind is very strong that day.

Now instead of that power being wasted, it's being used at the wind turbine in the ocean to make hydrogen. There is also of course a holding tank for the hydrogen as part of that wind turbine now.

The plan is to have a lot of these hydrogen producing wind turbines in place, and have a boat go out and pick up the "free" hydrogen.

Thoughts, opinions?

Answer 1

Sounds like a great idea.  One of the problems with all alternative energies like wind, wave, and solar is that the energy may be produced when the demand is low and not produced when demand is high.  Generating hydrogen allows "storage" of energy.

I have also heard that some companies are looking at "pump storage" associated with wind power.  Basically, the wind turbine drives a pump that moves water up into a reservoir.  Then, when the power is needed, the water flows back through the pump that acts like a water turbine to generate electricity.

Answer 2

wonder if they will ever name a Hydrogen car "The Hindenburg"

Answer 3

wind power = clean energy

yes. the more alternatives the better.

Answer 4

Hydrogen isn't going to be the fuel of the future.  Leaks would be impossible to stop and each car would be a mini bomb.  Not what the soccer moms are looking to drive.

Answer 5

I hope this works it would be so cool to get away from oil and produce energy from the wind and we all know its free and always there and its clean burning! Maybe my electric bill and gas bill will go down and I can start getting my nails done again and going out to eat!  Balance the economy back out! Tell him to work hard and get to the next level!

Answer 6

No I have not heard of this new technology, but it sounds pretty cool!  Does your husband work for Vestas?

Please keep us up to date with anything new!

Answer 7

The problem with Hydrogen is that it is such a basic (read: small) atom that it is hard to contain. The smallest leak and it is gone. Air is almost liquid compared to hydrogen. Combine that with its explosive qualities and there is real concern with storing hydrogen.

I like the plan to pump water in windy times into a storage tank then use the water to turn the generator in calmer times. As it is wind generators only spin at the right RPM range for 25% of the time. The other 75% of the time it is either too windy or not windy enough. By pumping water on the "too windy" days the extra load of the water pump will slow down the turbine and electricity can still be generated. Very clever.

And simple. We need more of that kind of innovation.