Oil companies and hydrogen
28 September 2005 by Hydrogen PowerYesterday, The Motley Fool had a great article, Big Oil Doesn’t Hate Hydrogen. They addressed what some conspiracy types keep saying, that big oil companies are trying to prevent hydrogen from gaining ground thereby limiting potential competition. All of the usual angles are addressed, showing that oil companies might be more accurately called energy companies. They would be in a prime position to produce and supply hydrogen to any developing hydrogen economy. Oil companies, after all, have to look at the future of dwindling oil and figure out where their next move will be. Hydrogen would be a natural.
What some people seem to forget is that the oil giants are energy companies, not gasoline-engine companies. If they can produce and sell hydrogen profitably, that’s an opportunity for them, not a threat to them. Besides, let’s not forget that much of our country’s refining capacity is fairly old. Companies will have to decide over the next decade or two whether they want to replace and renovate old gasoline refineries or build new facilities — facilities that could perhaps produce hydrogen.
Good article, definitely worth reading.
4 Responses to “Oil companies and hydrogen”
Your thoughts? Please remember, this is a public forum. All comments are filtered. Profanity will not be tolerated.
October 3rd, 2005 at 10:48 pm
What you mean to say here is that the oil companies don’t mind any kind of energy **as long as they can control it**.You must be talking about systems that rely
on buying compressed hydrogen at $3.00 per liter, that requires massive infastructure changes and hydrogen that **the oil companies control** You are not suggesting ,are you that a system that would take away
control from the oil companies, would face no oppisition from this group? Give your head a shake.
Is this an oil company propaganda blog,or are you just out to lunch?
October 4th, 2005 at 9:36 am
Did you take the time to read the article I linked to? The oil/energy companies are the natural part of our economy’s infrastructure to help in a transition to hydrogen. Far too many hydrogen proponents are taking an “anti everything other than hydrogen” stance that doesn’t help in the real world.
Hydrogen is a long way off because of the massive infrastructure changes necessary along with basic technical challenges of producing fuel cells and finding a way to produce hydrogen in meaningful quantities. Windmills and solar cells are not a serious plan. It’s why nuclear power is a good way to generate electricity for the grid and hydrogen for off grid uses. Hydrogen may actually be better suited to stationary fuel cells than for transportation in the near term.
Everyone is very receptive to ideas and technology that will advance the hydrogen economy, but calling those who don’t see the world as you do in this area “out to lunch” adds nothing to the debate. Be positive.
October 5th, 2005 at 11:59 am
A very good article. It helps explain why more companies outside the U.S. seem to have a greater sense of urgency about alternative fuels. I sometimes forget that our $3.00/gal is inexpensive compared to other countries.
October 7th, 2005 at 7:35 pm
Why I don’t trust oil companies is summed up very well in Mother Jones Magazine May/June 2003 issue titled
“Hydrogen’s Dirty Little Secret.” I think you are right about hydrogen fuel being suited for home use to produce your own electricity. I wish there was funding and infastrusture resesources for individual homeowners who have the courage to start a future of their choice that they can make happen, instead of the despair that comes from not having any choice.