Ok, you think we’ve lost it.

But since we are not shackled by universities or by any vested interest we can talk about anything here.

This bloke is interested in harnessing the power of lightning to generate energy and why not?

The earths atmosphere is really a giant battery. In fact on our planet there are really so many energy sources that it is surprising that the many creative minds on this planet have been shackled down and suppressed. Energy is everywhere.

The giant sheets and forks of lightning contain so much voltage that they can fry a tree and vaporize the air. Arcing through the great distances that they do, there is a staggering amount of energy.

There are areas on the planet that are prone to lightning and these would be areas that such a technology could be tested and established. Why waste this energy frying trees?

Ok, we are a bit short on details but the idea would be to:

• Incite a strike
• Channel the strike
• Store the strike
• Distribute and Use the energy for doing work

The oceans and sea locked nations would be ideal locations for this type of technology. The energy could be used for electrolysis of sea water into Hydrogen and help fuel the hydrogen economy.

Hydrogen has been billed as the “fuel of the future”, the solution to our non-renewable energy needs. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. 93% of all universal atoms are Hydrogen.

Hydrogen is the fuel that powers our sun. How we have not thus far harnessed it is a miracle. The proponents of fossil fuels will say that hydrogen is pseudo-science - a word that is often used in black propaganda campaigns that attack real threats to established monopolies or economic combines. Regardless of this backdrop which surrounds the simple science there are nevertheless some facts, which should, in a sane world be allowed to speak for themselves.

It is an undisputed fact that fossil fuels which currently provide fuel for our lifestyles are finite and “non-renewable”. It is this fact which cross relates with the economic law of supply and demand. In the end days of fossil fuels the demand has increased, whereas the supply is getting less. Economic theory states that this will drive prices up. And this is what we are seeing.

Notice the outlandish and lavish hotels being constructed in Dubai. These are all being built on the back of oil. Why is the third world starving when Dubai is rolling in more money than they can spend? It is the law of supply and demand.

But out of this debacle a phoenix can rise from the ashes. The great leveller - hydrogen. Hard to control - it can be produced even by third world countries and free them from economic shackles.
And in fact it is our belief that these countries should be the first to embrace these technologies and insulate themselves from the fossil fuel addiction. Black oil is like heroin. Once your infrastructure is in place for a fossil fuel society you must always go back to your dealer. Infrastructure is the addiction. By education and a slow replacement town by town of infrastructure your cities can achieve economic independence and stand on your own feet.

Your cities can even begin producing hydrogen and share in the wealth.

Economic theory also suggest that where the cost of a substance rises to a point that it becomes too expensive alternative production methods or technologies will arise. There is a “slack” in the price of fuel that is made up of exorbitant profits and this can be adjusted up and down to keep everyone on the “drip”. Just when everyone thinks that fossil fuel is too expensive the prices tumble and we forget our “biogas” and “vegetable oil” driven cars for the moment.

It is only by having a desire to free ones country from the drip, which requires brazen courage and forward planning by great leaders will one ever be free of the fossil fuel trap. Countries such as Sweden, Norway seem for some reason to have a track history of innovation in social change but that is not to say that other countries will not beat them to the mark.

It is with great sorrow that this author feels that the USA, the UK and Australia will be the last to embrace the change, primarily since Australia while rich in inventors individually has a follower type attitude - politically we seem to have become a state of the USA as far as foreign policy goes. We are looking to the 5 tigers in Asia and also emerging African Nations to lead the way.

Hydrogen for fuel cells or hydrogen autos has to come from somewhere.

The article we are linking to explains in a very simple way how hydrogen can be made by a process called Electrolysis.

Definition Electrolysis: Using electricity to split a molecule into its component atoms.

In this case the substance or molecule is water (H2O). A battery is connected via electrodes to a solution of water. The electricity in the battery provides an electric current between the terminals(electrodes) and does the “work” or provides the energy to split the H2O into Hydrogen Gas (H2) and Oxygen(02)

This process may not be the most energy efficient way of producing hydrogen for vehicles but it demonstrates one source of hydrogen and is useful for a basic understanding of the debates you will find about hydrogen’s viability as the fuel of the future.

Read the article here: How to make your own hydrogen

According to cars.com blog, there are at least 50 hydrogen refueling station in the lower states of the USA. Mostly these are in coastal areas with denser populations but seemingly new ones are on the way. They speculate that the increase in hydrogen outlets indicates that viability for hydrogen as a fuel is real.

Well, we hope so.

In the article you will find mpg figures and the location of the refueling station. Another hydrogen refueling station is slated for Texas.

Read the full article New Hydrogen Refueling Station

As reported on Kicking Tires, Honda is getting involved in Hydrogen Cars as did Toyota with it’s hybrid vehicles.

The limited supply of fossil fuel makes hydrogen a definite contender for the fuel of the future. Advances in technology will make it entirely possible that we may be driving hydrogen powered vehicles.

For the computer geeks, microsoft has the monopoly on computer software but hydrogen could be the next “open source” fuel, allowing economies of scale and clean burning to take the third world into the future and create an abundance for all.

This author will not be upset if the oil monopolies who control the planet’s purse strings are stretched and forced to reconsider their livelihoods.

The Honda article describes a test driver’s experience with an exciting hydrogen powered prototype:

Healey got a prototype up to 75 mph on a test track for his story, which backs the company’s claim it’ll hit 100 mph. Joe Wiesenfelder and I have both driven the current FCX, and besides its electric-car-quiet operation it isn’t much different from any low-powered four-cylinder in terms of performance.

Read the rest of the article here