Following the first and second laws of thermodynamics, this procedure results in a severe energy loss. The first law of thermodynamics says that the energy output from any process can't exceed the energy input, and the second law focusing in part on decay states that each process decays energy.
The production of the methanol from natural gas results in an initial 32% to 44% net energy loss, then the steam treatment process to procure the hydrogen results in a further 35% energy loss.
Several processes are being explored to derive hydrogen from water, as an inexhaustible source. However, this reaction, 2H2O + e = 2H2(g) + O2(g), requires a substantial energy investment per unit of water (286kJ per mole).
This energy investment is again required by both the first and second laws of thermodynamics and renders the electrolysis of water unprofitable in terms of energy return based on the energy invested.
Any effective hydrogen economy would require an infrastructure that could use zero-carbon power to electrolyze water into hydrogen, convey this highly diffuse gas long distances, and pump it at high pressure into a car or into our large fuel cells in our homes. Next, the hydrogen would have to be converted back into electricity to drive an electric motor or electric utilities. The cumulative process of electrolysis, transportation, pumping and fuel-cell conversion would render only 20...
In a plug-in hybrid, the process of electricity transmission, charging an onboard battery would leave 75 to 80% of the original electricity to drive the motor. Thus a plug-in should be able to travel three to four times farther on a kilowatt-hour of renewable electricity than a hydrogen fuel cell could.
Because of the second law of thermodynamics, hydrogen fuel cells will always have a limited energy return, and depending upon the process will contribute to green house gas emissions. Further, a hydrogen-based economy could require large-scale development and land use which could be cost prohibitive. Thus, it is not a feasible replacement to fossil fuels as an energy source.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
[i, ii, iv, vi] Joseph J. Romm, the Hype About Hydrogen: Fact and Fiction in the race to save the Climate (Island Press, NW. Washington DC 2004).
Joseph J. Romm, Andrew a. Frank "Hybrid Vehicles Gain Traction" Scientific American (April 2006).
Business Wire "?
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-25237309_ITM
Hydrogen Technology Applications and UTEK Corporation Announce Strategic Alliance Agreement?" Business Wire (April 2002).
[vii, ?] Joseph J. Romm, Andrew a. Frank "Hybrid Vehicles Gain Traction" Scienticif American (March 22006)
