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Accurate optical sensing

Hydrogen sensors have been the focus of research for many years. Scientists working for the University of Georgia and South Carolina’s Savannah River National Laboratory have now found a way to make it extremely easy to detect even minute traces of the gas. A research article about their new optical method for hydrogen sensing was published in the Nature Communications journal in April. “Our spark-free, optical-based hydrogen sensors detect the presence of hydrogen without electronics, making the process much safer,” said Tho Nguyen, an associate professor in the university’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and, together with the laboratory’s George Larsen, the co-principal investigator on the project. (more…)

Nikola Motors – competition is good for business

Nikola Motors – competition is good for business

It seems like Nikola Motors [Nasdaq: NKLA] was able to stop the bleeding of the past few months. The stock is rising again. Up to 30 million shares are now traded each day, a comparatively high volume for the company. The new-found optimism among investors seems to stem from reports about Nikola’s recent progress in meeting its targets. Construction of the Arizona factory is well underway. Then there are new production facilities being built in Ulm, Germany. And another boost for the stock came when competitor Daimler Truck announced its intention to have 5,000 hydrogen-fueled heavy-duty vehicles on the road over the next few years, with business partner Shell providing the fueling infrastructure. Sounds a lot like Nikola’s business model, the difference being that Nikola will produce its own hydrogen, and be able to keep the revenue, instead of outsourcing the task to another company.

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Tesla – profitable in what way?

Tesla – profitable in what way?

Giga Factory in Grünheide, © Tesla
Giga Factory in Grünheide, © Tesla

Nowadays, Tesla [Nasdaq: TSLA] is largely making headlines not for of its financials but for the tweets of its charismatic chief executive, Elon Musk. His thoughts on cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and doge coin, which, depending on the time of day, he says are a really good or a really bad deal, can dominate whole news cycles. Someone recently brought up the huge amounts of energy needed to mine them. As it turns out, the process uses non-renewable sources of energy, which could end up reflecting badly on the image of battery-electric cars as well. In response, Musk said he will rethink his position on bitcoin, which helped cause the cryptocurrency’s price to plunge from over USD 60,000 to USD 30,000. One might wonder what his behavior did to Tesla’s own USD 1.5 billion bitcoin investment.

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This is the cure, not the treatment

This is the cure, not the treatment

Strizki in front of an hydrogen refueling station
© Hydrogen House Project

“Who cares if H2 production is inefficient? Free is still free!”

Mike Strizki is more than infatuated with hydrogen. He’s dedicated to it, saying he has a lifelong commitment to the most plentiful element on Earth – that it is essential to bringing about zero emissions. And allowing his eight grandchildren to live healthier and more productive lives.

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A hydrogen plant to fuel Los Angeles

A hydrogen plant to fuel Los Angeles

coal plant
Coal plant in Utah, © LADWP

When it comes to electricity generated from pure hydrogen, there’s good news: The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has reached an agreement with authorities in Utah to buy much of the output from the Intermountain Power Project, which will produce green hydrogen from wind and solar.

All the signs point in the right direction for this to work: For starters, Los Angeles is going all-green by 2045 and it is already getting some of its electricity from this Utah-based 1,800-megawatt coal power plant.

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A leading fuel cell solution

A leading fuel cell solution

Randy MacEwen
Interview with Randy MacEwen

Ballard Power Systems is a pioneer in the fuel cell industry. Since 1983, fuel cells have been developed in the company founded by Geoffrey Ballard in Burnaby near Vancouver. Randy MacEwen has been President & CEO of the Canadian fuel cell manufacturer since 2014. On October 23, 2019, the International Hydrogen Symposium brought him to Hamburg where H2-international seized the opportunity for an interview.

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