r/science • u/Wagamaga • Feb 15 '23

Chemistry How to make hydrogen straight from seawater – no desalination required. The new method from researchers splits the seawater directly into hydrogen and oxygen – skipping the need for desalination and its associated cost, energy consumption and carbon emissions.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/media-releases-and-expert-comments/2023/feb/hydrogen-seawater
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u/ic4llshotgun Feb 15 '23

Absolutely not. But I like getting the concept out there and this seemed like a convenient spot! Ideas always feed off of one another and innovation breeds innovation

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u/l4mbch0ps Feb 15 '23

Yah, not trying to poo poo your post at all.

I think hydrogen has plenty of use cases as energy storage, but I think most of what's happening now is lobbying by particular companies who stand to benefit from its adoption, whether it makes sense or not. Oil and gas companies, for example, has industry expertise in processing, storage and distribution of flammable gasses and liquids, so I think they are trying to push hydrogen over battery technology in order to maintain the rent seeking position theybput themselves into with oil.