Expert: Dr. Henry Boyter, Jr. - 5/24/2005

Question
Not for school (have searched google), just trying to clarify my presumption that water is a fossil fuel if we use it to extract hydrogen for a fuel source.

Maybe I'm way off base.  

- Automotive industry appears to be concentrating next generation of vehicles (after gas-electric hybreds) to use hydrogen as fuel.

- Most apparent source of said hydrogen is to derive it from water (i.e. Iceland's geothermal powered fuel cell or let's say solar powered electrolysis).

- Starting point is fresh water, not saltwater/ocean water.  Ratio is something worse than or about 7/1, seven gallons of ocean water to create one gallon of fresh water (may be way off there, but they are definitely not the same thing).

Main Question?

These proposed/existing engines that will "burn" hydrogen for power, having water vapor (water) come out as their main (only?) emission. Isn't there some kind of loss from the original amount of water used to attain the hydrogen and the amount the earth is left with once it is used in this fashion.

- Understood that there are other benefits, such as usable oxygen if water was broken as source for Hydrogen.

- Friends who oppose my presumption of water fossil fuel-"like" say "well, the water just gets put back together somewhere in our system.   I can't quite see that being possible, Is there any truth to this?  If not what is the end result?

YOUR INPUT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED

Thank you Dr. Boyter

Have a great summer.  

Answer
1. Hydrogen is not a fossil fuel since water is not made from dinosaur remains from millions of years ago.

2. Hydrogen will not be 100% clean burning since some nitrogen oxides may be formed (but much better than gas).

3. Hydrogen is a very dangerous fuel since it is much more flammable the gas.  Special station will have to be built and my guess is full service will return.

4. The amount of water out of circulation will be very tiny and will not even be measurable on the grand scale.  Since fresh water is already a concern, hydrogen may have to be made from sea water.

5. You mention geothermal and solar powered.  Note that for large scale use, a conventional power source is ALWAYS required.  Electricity can not be stored in large amounts.  You use it or lose it.

6. Any power system has to be less than 100% efficient.  So it is not water in water out.  It is water in most of the water out.  Remember to make the hydrogen to begin with, you have to have energy.  Nuclear would be the choice for that.