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WHY HYDROGEN? BECAUSE WE CAN’T ESCAPE CLIMATE CATASTROPHE WITHOUT IT

https://doi.org/10.15518/isjaee.2018.19-21.034-039

Abstract

Beginning with a review of the causes, dangers and impacts of human induced (anthropogenic) climate change— with an emphasis on oceans and sea-level rise—the article moves defines the role of energy currencies and why the concept of currencies is key to identifying systemic climate change solutions.

The article then sets out a six-step rationale showing why the twin energy currencies hydrogen and electricity (hydricity)  must  dominate  future  energy  systems—if  we  are  to  have  a  chance  to  escape  worldwide  climate catastrophe. It concludes with a few reflections on hydricity and thoughts on why a vigorous transition to hydricity has not yet begun.

About the Author

D. S. Scott
University of Victoria Institute for Integrated Energy Systems
Canada

David Sanborn Scott - Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon.),  D.Eng.  (hon.),  Founding  Director, Institute  for  Integrated  Energy  Systems, University of Victoria; Vice-President of the International Association for Hydrogen Energy.

Awards:  the  Jules  Verne  Award  from  the International Association for Hydrogen Energy, 2006;  an  honorary  doctorate  of science  degree (the  University  of  Ontario  Institute  of Technology, 2007) and an inaugural honorary lifetime member (the Canadian Hydrogen Association) as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (2010); an honorary doctorate of engineering (the University of Victoria, 2012).

Education: undergraduate and master’s degrees   in   mechanical   engineering   (Queen’s University,  Canada);  doctorate  in  mechanical engineering       and       astronautical       sciences (Northwestern University, USA).

Research interests: fuel cell systems; non-fossil energy sources; energy storage; hydrogen production; hydrogen storage; hydrogen generation; hydrogen energy.

Publications: more than 100; Smelling Land: The Hydrogen Defense Against Climate Catastrophe (2007).

PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria BC V8W 2Y2.

Tel.: 250-721-6295, fax: 250-721-6323.



References

1. Lovelock, J. The Ages of Gaia: a Biography of our Living Earth. 1988, ISBN 0-393-31239-9.

2. Lovelock, J. The Revenge of Gaia, 2006, ISBN 13: 978-0-713-99914-3. See p. 54.

3. Fischer H., Meissner K., Mix A., et al. Review Article Palaeoclimate Constraints on the Impact of 2 °C Anthropogenic Warming and Beyond. Nature Geosciences, 2018;11:474–485 (Author correction 2018 July).

4. Folger, T. Rising Seas. National Geographic, 2013;224(3).

5. Bennet, J. We Need and Energy Miracle. The Atlantic, November 2015 (interview with Bill Gates).

6. Brewer, G.D. Hydrogen Aircraft Technology. CRC Press, 1991, ISBN 0-8493-5838-8.


Review

For citations:


Scott D.S. WHY HYDROGEN? BECAUSE WE CAN’T ESCAPE CLIMATE CATASTROPHE WITHOUT IT. Alternative Energy and Ecology (ISJAEE). 2018;(19-21):34-39. https://doi.org/10.15518/isjaee.2018.19-21.034-039

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ISSN 1608-8298 (Print)