Tom Raftery's - Things to Come

In the latest episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I dive deep into the world of hydrogen and its role in our sustainable future. My guest, Michael Barnard (@mbarnardca on Twitter), Chief Strategist of The Future Is Electric (@tfie1 on Twitter), shares his expert insights on the viability of hydrogen as an energy source and its potential to transform industries.

As we face the challenge of mitigating climate change and transitioning to a low-carbon economy, hydrogen has been hailed as a miraculous energy solution. However, Michael Barnard debunks some of the most common myths surrounding hydrogen’s potential, offering a reality check on its limitations and the role it may truly play in our future.

One key takeaway from the conversation is Michael’s assertion that “hydrogen is a terrible battery.” He explains that hydrogen has low energy density and high conversion losses, making it a less efficient energy storage solution than widely believed. Michael also emphasizes that hydrogen’s role in aviation and marine transport is overhyped, with its chances in these sectors being slim.

Michael goes on to discuss the factors driving the hydrogen hype, particularly the influence of the fossil fuel industry. He suggests that governments and industries are promoting hydrogen to keep fossil fuel infrastructure relevant, even as the world moves towards a more sustainable energy mix. As Michael puts it, “There’s a moral case for fossil fuels, but it’s now over.”

Furthermore, Michael delves into the challenges faced by the fossil fuel industry and the role hydrogen may play in their future. He highlights the complexities and potential impacts of hydrogen production from fossil fuels, particularly in countries like Canada and Norway.

One of the most thought-provoking moments in the conversation is Michael’s exploration of hydrogen’s potential in decarbonizing industrial heat production. While some proponents of hydrogen argue that it could play a significant role in this sector, Michael remains cautious, emphasizing the need for more research and innovation to fully understand its capabilities.

Throughout the episode, Michael maintains a bold vision for a sustainable future, stating, “We don’t want the fossil fuel industry around anymore.” He believes that electrification and renewable energy sources will replace fossil fuels over time, and that hydrogen will only play a limited role in the broader energy transition.

In conclusion, this eye-opening conversation with Michael Barnard sheds light on the reality of hydrogen’s role in our sustainable future. It provides listeners with a much-needed reality check, urging them to look beyond the hype and focus on the facts. To learn more about Michael’s work and gain a deeper understanding of hydrogen’s potential and limitations, listen to the full episode of the Climate Confident podcast here.

Finally, don’t forget to follow the Climate Confident podcast for weekly inspiring stories and remember, if you value receiving weekly actionable insights on sustainability and climate, you can always sign up to be a Supporter of the podcast for less than the cost of a cup of coffee.

The latest episode of my Climate Confident Podcast features a conversation with Tim Brown, the CEO of Tradewater. Tradewater is a company that is focused on collecting, controlling, and destroying greenhouse gases with the goal of making the biggest impact possible, as fast as possible.

During the podcast, Tim explains that as a mission-driven company, Tradewater is particularly interested in non-CO2 gases, which are short-lived climate pollutants that do their damage early on when they are released. The gases that Tradewater is currently focusing on include old refrigerants that are up to 10,900 times as potent as CO2, and methane from abandoned and orphaned oil and gas wells that are leaking methane into the atmosphere.

Tim also discussed the scale of the issue, with researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently estimating that there are 9 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent from these gases scattered around the world, most of them already in appliances, foams, building insulation, and other applications. On the HCFCs, which are lower in their global warming potential emissions factor, there are 5 billion metric tons of those gases deployed around the world.

Trade Water’s current goal is to reach a new baseline of 3 million metric tons per year, starting in 2023 and by 2028, they hope to have done 20 million tons of impact. Tim also shared that one of the most interesting aspects of their work has been the global dimension of it and how it has put them in contact with many interesting people around the world. They are always looking for partners and people who are knowledgeable about where these gases may exist, and they have done projects and are working in Honduras, Dominican Republic, Chile, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Thailand and also have intentions to evaluate about 16 more countries this year.

One of the key takeaways from the podcast is that these gases are fungible in the atmosphere and collecting, controlling, and destroying them will benefit everyone. The global nature of this work highlights the magnitude of this problem, but it also presents an opportunity to work in a global context and bring this work up to scale.

The conversation with Tim was both informative and inspiring. It’s clear that Tradewater is making a significant impact in the fight against climate change, and I encourage listeners to check out the full episode to learn more about the work that they are doing. If you’re interested in learning more about the company or connecting with Tim, you can visit their website at tradewater.us or find him on LinkedIn.

And of course, be sure to follow the Climate Confident Podcast to stay up-to-date on the latest developments and solutions in the fight against climate change.

Photo credit FracTracker Alliance on Flickr

Tom Raftery's – Things to Come

Tag: energyefficiency

Title: Debunking the Hydrogen Hype: Michael Barnard on the Future of Energy

Climate Solutions in Action: An In-Depth Look at Tradewater’s Efforts to Combat Greenhouse Gases

Tom Raftery – Technology Evangelist, Podcast Host, & Influencer – Sustainability, Supply Chain, Energy, EVs