----- Original Message ---- From: Terry Blanton
> About 92% [transmission and distribution eff] Yes but looked at another way that is 8% loss which is on top of the thermal efficiency of the plant, correct? IOW a coal plant operating at 40% thermal efficiency would suffer another 8% loss, compared to the original energy content of the coal. A coal plant cannot be turned off at night, so there are additional losses there. Plus the pollution. Since we can burn hydrogen anywhere- and the pollution is nil, and since the efficiency of conversion is the same or higher - then it could possibly make lots of cent$$$ especially in the more northern parts of the country to pipe hydrogen, made from wind energy, to a small neighborhood "substation" sized unit, make your electricity there, at 40% efficiency and up - in a converted diesel - and use the waste heat for almost free hot water and home heating. Even small diesels running on hydrogen can reach over 40% thermal efficiency, do not suffer the transmission and distribution losses, can be shut off when not needed, and can provide very hot water to a local setting. Hot water represents up to 25% of the average family's energy use - not to mention winter-time heating. http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2009/03/17/h2bvplus-bmw-hydrogen-engine/ That kind of co-generation comparison makes wind->H2 look more competitive, especially in certain geographical areas, no?
