Why Not Use Water Electrolysis for Industrial Hydrogen Production?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the inefficiency of using water electrolysis for industrial hydrogen production compared to traditional methods. Currently, hydrogen production via electrolysis accounts for only 4% of total production due to high electricity costs, making it economically unfeasible. In contrast, hydrogen derived from natural gas, light oil, or coal remains significantly cheaper. The conversation references resources from the U.S. Department of Energy and other credible sources to support these claims.

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PPonte
If water is so plentiful in Nature, why to not use its electrolysis in industry to obtain hydrogen?
 
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PPonte said:
If water is so plentiful in Nature, why to not use its electrolysis in industry to obtain hydrogen?
Electricity costs money and at the moment it is much cheaper to produced hydrogen from natural gas, light oil or coal, with only 4% by electrolysis.

See - http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/production/prod_methods.html

See also - http://www.bellona.no/en/energy/hydrogen/report_6-2002/22869.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_economy (seems the some of the info came from DOE)
 
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