Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

gerkletoss t1_j5qlxcw wrote

Reply to comment by mhornberger in Solar powered hydrogen facility being built in California by ForHidingSquirrels

Cars aren't the only possible application for hydrogen fuel. Aircraft are going to have a very difficult time using batteries.

3

mhornberger t1_j5qneix wrote

There's also synfuel, also called electrofuel. Prometheus Fuels and multiple other companies are working on synthesizing jet fuel (and diesel, and everything else we get from fossil fuels now) from air-captured CO2. It won't be as efficient or cheap as electrified planes, but as you say, electrifying aviation won't be easy.

I have more confidence in this synthetic jet fuel, mainly because it works in planes we already have now. Not hypothetical future designs that use only hydrogen.

2

gerkletoss t1_j5qnp8m wrote

You also have efficiency gains from not having to carry a heavy battery through the air though lift induced drag is way worse than rolling resistance. And that could potentially be the best way to do it indefinitely as long as we get carbon neutral, especially for military applications.

1