All articles tagged with #hydrogen fuel
Researchers at Cambridge University have developed a multi-pass methane pyrolysis process that recycles 99% of gas to produce high-quality carbon nanotubes and clean hydrogen fuel without emitting CO2, significantly improving efficiency and reducing waste in hydrogen and nanotube production.
Bill Gates' $645 million hydrogen-powered superyacht, Breakthrough, has completed its sea trials and is now on the market. This 390-foot vessel, the first of its kind, runs on liquid hydrogen stored at -423°F, making it an eco-friendly innovation. Despite Gates not taking ownership, the yacht boasts luxurious features like an underwater lounge, a hospital, and a 29-foot contraflow pool, while also being a silent, emission-reducing powerhouse. It reflects Gates' climate advocacy and is now available for a new owner.
Nikola stock soared by more than 15% due to the announcement of plans for a new hydrogen fueling station in Western Canada and the showcasing of hydrogen fueling stations at the Paris Olympics by Air Liquide. These developments signal legitimacy for Nikola and its plans to grow the use of its hydrogen trucks in North America, leading to investor optimism. However, potential investors should note that The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team did not include Nikola in their list of the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now.
Shell is closing seven of its hydrogen refueling stations in California, leaving only three remaining, and has canceled plans for 48 new stations in the state. The decision comes as the automotive industry continues to develop hydrogen fuel cell solutions alongside the popularization of electric vehicles. Meanwhile, Shell has been expanding its electric vehicle charging network and partnering with companies for light-duty EV charging.
Shell is closing all seven of its hydrogen fueling stations in California due to hydrogen supply complications and other external market factors, dealing a blow to the struggling hydrogen car market in the state. The closure is attributed to a shortage that has been disrupting stations since August 13, along with serious reliability issues and a lawsuit involving the core technology for hydrogen filling stations. This move raises further uncertainty about the future of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in the United States, as the technology has struggled to gain traction due to expensive fuel and infrastructure challenges. Shell's decision reflects the difficulties in justifying investments in light-duty hydrogen infrastructure, signaling broader challenges for the industry.
Plug Power's stock has surged despite struggles over the past year, with a recent 35% increase. The company's first shipment of liquid green hydrogen from its new production plant in Georgia has sparked investor optimism, although CEO Andy Marsh acknowledges ongoing financial challenges. Investors are cautious due to potential stock offerings, but Marsh suggests alternative capital-raising options. The company's future hinges on belief in the hydrogen space.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has updated its road map for combating climate change, emphasizing the need to swiftly transition to renewable energy while minimizing reliance on unproven technologies such as carbon capture and hydrogen fuels. The report highlights that emerging technologies have not lived up to the hype and now play a smaller role in emissions reductions. Hydrogen production is seen as more of a climate problem than a solution, while electric charging infrastructure is growing rapidly. The road map also reduces the projected role of carbon capture technologies. The report underscores the urgency of tripling global renewable power capacity by 2030 and doubling energy efficiency, while the world's wealthiest countries need to reach net-zero emissions ahead of the 2050 target.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing for the U.S. Department of Energy to establish a hydrogen fuel hub in the northeast involving seven states, including New York, which could result in a $1.25 billion investment in the region. Schumer believes this could create a cleaner fuel source for traditional motor vehicles and power stations to help utilities in New York state keep up with demand for electricity. The hydrogen hub designation could result in adding thousands of jobs in the state, with Plug Power's CEO noting that the company already provides hydrogen fuel technology for commercial vehicles.
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has said that the establishment of "green shipping corridors" is crucial to reducing carbon emissions from the shipping industry. The US is seeking to develop partnerships with "like-minded countries" to improve maritime security and keep shipping and aviation corridors open. Emissions from maritime transport account for about 3% of total global emissions from human activities. The International Maritime Organization wants to halve its greenhouse gas releases by midcentury and may seek deeper cuts this year. Japan is working to reduce fossil fuel use and promote hydrogen and ammonia as alternative fuels.
Nel Hydrogen, a Norwegian company, will build a $400 million "gigafactory" in Michigan to manufacture equipment that produces hydrogen fuel. The factory will create more than 500 clean energy manufacturing jobs and will be the first in the U.S. to produce electrolyzers, which use electrolysis to produce hydrogen from water. The move is part of Michigan's goal to become carbon-neutral by 2050 and to lead hydrogen development. The state is also in conversations to become one of the six to 10 hydrogen "hubs" selected by the U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Office.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a new hybrid bio-nano system that combines finely-tuned photocatalytic semiconducting nanoparticles to make hydrogen with a bacterium which, while it does not photosynthesise or make hydrogen itself, it provides the necessary electrons to the nanomaterial to synthesise hydrogen. The system could offer a promising new route for producing sustainable solar-driven hydrogen fuel.
Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have designed a synthetic molecule that mimics the hydrogen gas-producing chemical reaction performed by the ancient biological enzyme nickel-iron hydrogenase. The enzyme produces hydrogen using earth-abundant metals in its core, making it an attractive alternative to platinum, which is currently used as a catalyst in industrial hydrogen production. The team designed an organic molecule called a ligand that contains electron-donating atoms like nitrogen and sulfur, which can hold the nickel in place and support the two relevant paramagnetic states that produce hydrogen. The molecule could lead to further insights into how nature performs chemistry with small molecules like hydrogen.