Future energy sources?

[tamada]

"who will invest billions" Apparently the car companies and the major oil companies.

Stay tuned

I recall the days when the "major oil companies" collectively vowed to "invest billions" in renewables. Over the past several months, along with several non-fossil fuel investors, they have either stalled or withdrawn their interest. This has precipitated the diminishing investments in offshore wind development in the US that has had a knock-on effect on the EU and elsewhere. There's still interest and investment, but it has scaled back significantly.

In the meantime, truck maker DAF, who were an early investor in developing hydrogen-powered heavy goods vehicles are still in the race but have elevated bio-fuels and EV investment above that of hydrogen ICE development. It's still a long road.

[Doodoo]

" It's still a long road."
But at least we have a road

[AlexO]

" It's still a long road."
But at least we have a road

And I for one honestly hope this long road does not end in a dead end but, fossil fuelled vehicles are going to be around for a long time yet.

[Doodoo]

a French aviation startup, has unveiled its updated design for the BYA-1, a zero-emissions hydrogen-electric jet intended for launch by 2030. This 10-seat business jet uses hydrogen-electric propulsion, allowing significantly greater range compared to battery-electric alternatives. It achieves this by housing six hydrogen tanks—four along an expanded fuselage and two at the wingtips—powering six fuel cells to generate electricity for its twin electric jet engines.
Hydrogen's energy density advantage over batteries enables the BYA-1 to cover approximately 921 miles (1,482 kilometers) at 357 mph (575 km/h) with six passengers, or extend up to 1,381 miles (2,223 kilometers) at lower speeds.
Beyond says its twin electric ducted fans use 90% fewer parts and operate at cooler temperatures than traditional Jet-A engines. Combined with a modular, swappable engine design for easier maintenance, the setup could reduce operational costs by up to 55%. The company also projects a 17% fuel cost saving at launch, thanks to favorable green hydrogen pricing.
Additionally, cabin noise will reportedly be reduced by half, creating a significantly quieter flying experience. Beyond Aero, supported by substantial investment and having completed initial hydrogen-powered prototype flights, is currently pursuing certification with Europe's aviation authority, EASA.
Though challenges remain, including regulatory approval and technological validation, Beyond Aero's progress highlights a growing effort among aviation startups to deliver practical, clean alternatives in air travel, particularly as larger manufacturers remain hesitant to fully commit to hydrogen solutions.

Get out of the way Hydrogen is on the move

[tamada]

a French aviation startup, has unveiled its updated design for the BYA-1, a zero-emissions hydrogen-electric jet intended for launch by 2030. This 10-seat business jet uses hydrogen-electric propulsion, allowing significantly greater range compared to battery-electric alternatives. It achieves this by housing six hydrogen tanks—four along an expanded fuselage and two at the wingtips—powering six fuel cells to generate electricity for its twin electric jet engines.
Hydrogen's energy density advantage over batteries enables the BYA-1 to cover approximately 921 miles (1,482 kilometers) at 357 mph (575 km/h) with six passengers, or extend up to 1,381 miles (2,223 kilometers) at lower speeds.
Beyond says its twin electric ducted fans use 90% fewer parts and operate at cooler temperatures than traditional Jet-A engines. Combined with a modular, swappable engine design for easier maintenance, the setup could reduce operational costs by up to 55%. The company also projects a 17% fuel cost saving at launch, thanks to favorable green hydrogen pricing.
Additionally, cabin noise will reportedly be reduced by half, creating a significantly quieter flying experience. Beyond Aero, supported by substantial investment and having completed initial hydrogen-powered prototype flights, is currently pursuing certification with Europe's aviation authority, EASA.
Though challenges remain, including regulatory approval and technological validation, Beyond Aero's progress highlights a growing effort among aviation startups to deliver practical, clean alternatives in air travel, particularly as larger manufacturers remain hesitant to fully commit to hydrogen solutions.

Get out of the way Hydrogen is on the move

You'll need 28 of those to replace a single A380 on the UTH to BKK route, double that for a round trip.

What's the checked baggage allowance?

[NickDunning]

"who will invest billions" Apparently the car companies and the major oil companies.

Stay tuned

I recall the days when the "major oil companies" collectively vowed to "invest billions" in renewables. Over the past several months, along with several non-fossil fuel investors, they have either stalled or withdrawn their interest. This has precipitated the diminishing investments in offshore wind development in the US that has had a knock-on effect on the EU and elsewhere. There's still interest and investment, but it has scaled back significantly.

In the meantime, truck maker DAF, who were an early investor in developing hydrogen-powered heavy goods vehicles are still in the race but have elevated bio-fuels and EV investment above that of hydrogen ICE development. It's still a long road.

My grown up step son's brain, but I'm not if it'd catch fire or just douse the flame.

[Doodoo]

A tiny new hydrogen engine could finally replace fossil fuels.
Aquarius Engines has unveiled a groundbreaking 22-lb (10 kg) hydrogen engine that could challenge both traditional combustion engines and hydrogen fuel cells.
Unlike conventional engines, this single-piston linear design has just 20 components and one moving part, making it significantly cheaper and easier to maintain.
The company claims its hydrogen-powered engine operates efficiently without requiring costly fuel cells, offering a potentially more affordable and sustainable alternative for global transport and energy production. Austrian engineering firm AVL-Schrick has already tested and confirmed the engine’s ability to run purely on hydrogen, signaling a possible shift in the future of clean energy.
Despite its potential, the hydrogen-versus-electric debate remains heated. While some countries like Japan have invested heavily in hydrogen infrastructure, industry leaders like Volkswagen and Tesla’s Elon Musk argue that electrification is the smarter path forward. However, Aquarius Engines’ partnerships with manufacturers like TPR and Musashi Seimitsu suggest that hydrogen technology isn’t fading away anytime soon. First introduced in 2014 as a power generator, this lightweight engine has evolved into a contender for revolutionizing vehicle propulsion. If successful, it could mark a new era of sustainable mobility—one that sidesteps both fossil fuels and complex hydrogen fuel cells.

[Barney]

The USA govt "Dept of Energy" has finally provided a green light and full notice to proceed on the new "Thacker Pass" Lithium mine and processing plant in Nevada.

It's a larger than average Lithium deposit as the info below advises. Things are certainly ramping up. General Motors must be planning to build more than a couple of battery vehicles.

Quote
Thacker Pass is the largest known lithium deposit in the world. Once completed, Phase 1 will produce 40,000 tons of lithium carbonate per year for electric vehicles (EVs) — eight times the current U.S. output and enough to power 800,000 EVs each year. The U.S. Department of Energy provided LAC with a $2.26 billion loan to build the lithium processing facilities, and General Motors has purchased the facilities’ entire output for 20 years in advance.

[Barney]

Some are finding it to hard to move away from and now circling the wagons to return to their well known products.

BP’s Low-carbon Mobility Team Axed As Company Reverts To Oil And Gas
The Financial Times (4/3, Wilson) “BP is shutting its low-carbon mobility team in the energy major’s latest retreat from its five-year-old attempt to diversify away from oil...”

[Barney]

Not a future energy source but one from the past.

https://youtu.be/wWEL9NtgWXU

[AlexO]

Some are finding it to hard to move away from and now circling the wagons to return to their well known products.

BP’s Low-carbon Mobility Team Axed As Company Reverts To Oil And Gas
The Financial Times (4/3, Wilson) “BP is shutting its low-carbon mobility team in the energy major’s latest retreat from its five-year-old attempt to diversify away from oil...”

Dont think its moving away Barney.
its the realisation that this Net Zero nonsense is stupidity, wrapped up in a political disaster.
The existing planet population will 'NOT' change its basic function, the poor don't have a clue about Carbon Levels. The poor mantra, Survival, feed my family, improve my lifestyle.
All the wet knickered, hand wringing well paid planet savers are not going to stop the poor people from trying to improve their living conditions. All thats happening is wet willed politicians (only interested in votes) making noises and costing people money.

[tamada]

Some are finding it to hard to move away from and now circling the wagons to return to their well known products.

BP’s Low-carbon Mobility Team Axed As Company Reverts To Oil And Gas
The Financial Times (4/3, Wilson) “BP is shutting its low-carbon mobility team in the energy major’s latest retreat from its five-year-old attempt to diversify away from oil...”

Dont think its moving away Barney.
its the realisation that this Net Zero nonsense is stupidity, wrapped up in a political disaster.
The existing planet population will 'NOT' change its basic function, the poor don't have a clue about Carbon Levels. The poor mantra, Survival, feed my family, improve my lifestyle.
All the wet knickered, hand wringing well paid planet savers are not going to stop the poor people from trying to improve their living conditions. All thats happening is wet willed politicians (only interested in votes) making noises and costing people money.

I don't blame them from walking away from their alternative energy strategies. Many of their meaningful contributions, significant developments and investments were too easily discounted as greenwashing by the unscientific but noisome climate alarmists and the attention-grabbing politicians that flocked to their guttering flame.

It was a thankless task but now they can cut their losses and return to their core business of ensuring that the world's undeserving civilisation dies a horrible, hot, flooded and polluted premature death.

[AlexO]

Some are finding it to hard to move away from and now circling the wagons to return to their well known products.

BP’s Low-carbon Mobility Team Axed As Company Reverts To Oil And Gas
The Financial Times (4/3, Wilson) “BP is shutting its low-carbon mobility team in the energy major’s latest retreat from its five-year-old attempt to diversify away from oil...”

Dont think its moving away Barney.
its the realisation that this Net Zero nonsense is stupidity, wrapped up in a political disaster.
The existing planet population will 'NOT' change its basic function, the poor don't have a clue about Carbon Levels. The poor mantra, Survival, feed my family, improve my lifestyle.
All the wet knickered, hand wringing well paid planet savers are not going to stop the poor people from trying to improve their living conditions. All thats happening is wet willed politicians (only interested in votes) making noises and costing people money.

I don't blame them from walking away from their alternative energy strategies. Many of their meaningful contributions, significant developments and investments were too easily discounted as greenwashing by the unscientific but noisome climate alarmists and the attention-grabbing politicians that flocked to their guttering flame.

It was a thankless task but now they can cut their losses and return to their core business of ensuring that the world's undeserving civilisation dies a horrible, hot, flooded and polluted premature death.

Surprised at you Tam.
What meaningful contributions are you referring to.
Cancel Internal Combustion engines.
Cancel heating, cooking and water heating in homes by anything except electricity.
Cover the land in solar farms and windmills that only work when time and or weather allow.
Stop all forms of industry that cause CO2 in your own country, just buy from abroad so the climate activists can say it wisney us.
Do absolutely nothing about the real cause, overpopulation and the destruction of the natural CO2 absorbing forests to increase farming land.

The only problem is there is insufficient clean electrical power required for the world to go 'all electric' and there never will be if we continue with the failed policy of solar and wind generated energy.

Perhaps your predictions of civilisation "dies a horrible, hot, flooded and polluted premature death" will be nature's way of sorting the problem of overpopulation by erect walking, two legged mammals.

[tamada]

Some are finding it to hard to move away from and now circling the wagons to return to their well known products.

BP’s Low-carbon Mobility Team Axed As Company Reverts To Oil And Gas
The Financial Times (4/3, Wilson) “BP is shutting its low-carbon mobility team in the energy major’s latest retreat from its five-year-old attempt to diversify away from oil...”

Dont think its moving away Barney.
its the realisation that this Net Zero nonsense is stupidity, wrapped up in a political disaster.
The existing planet population will 'NOT' change its basic function, the poor don't have a clue about Carbon Levels. The poor mantra, Survival, feed my family, improve my lifestyle.
All the wet knickered, hand wringing well paid planet savers are not going to stop the poor people from trying to improve their living conditions. All thats happening is wet willed politicians (only interested in votes) making noises and costing people money.

I don't blame them from walking away from their alternative energy strategies. Many of their meaningful contributions, significant developments and investments were too easily discounted as greenwashing by the unscientific but noisome climate alarmists and the attention-grabbing politicians that flocked to their guttering flame.

It was a thankless task but now they can cut their losses and return to their core business of ensuring that the world's undeserving civilisation dies a horrible, hot, flooded and polluted premature death.

Surprised at you Tam.
What meaningful contributions are you referring to.
Cancel Internal Combustion engines.
Cancel heating, cooking and water heating in homes by anything except electricity.
Cover the land in solar farms and windmills that only work when time and or weather allow.
Stop all forms of industry that cause CO2 in your own country, just buy from abroad so the climate activists can say it wisney us.
Do absolutely nothing about the real cause, overpopulation and the destruction of the natural CO2 absorbing forests to increase farming land.

The only problem is there is insufficient clean electrical power required for the world to go 'all electric' and there never will be if we continue with the failed policy of solar and wind generated energy.

Perhaps your predictions of civilisation "dies a horrible, hot, flooded and polluted premature death" will be nature's way of sorting the problem of overpopulation by erect walking, two legged mammals.

I was talking about the fossil fuel industry's significant contributions to the development of renewables. AFAIK, the oil and gas supermajors haven't been involved with 'cancellations' you list. Their investments in developing offshore wind and integrating it with offshore oil and gas production is one that I consider to have been meaningful.

[AlexO]

I was talking about the fossil fuel industry's significant contributions to the development of renewables. AFAIK, the oil and gas supermajors haven't been involved with 'cancellations' you list. Their investments in developing offshore wind and integrating it with offshore oil and gas production is one that I consider to have been meaningful.

They only dipped they're collective toes into renewables because of Governments stated aim at electrifying the world using solar and wind power without thinking through the actual consequences.
I am yet to be convinced there is any connective tissue between oil, gas and offshore wind farms, not if the mantra of clean power is ever to be achieved.

[tamada]

I was talking about the fossil fuel industry's significant contributions to the development of renewables. AFAIK, the oil and gas supermajors haven't been involved with 'cancellations' you list. Their investments in developing offshore wind and integrating it with offshore oil and gas production is one that I consider to have been meaningful.

They only dipped they're collective toes into renewables because of Governments stated aim at electrifying the world using solar and wind power without thinking through the actual consequences.
I am yet to be convinced there is any connective tissue between oil, gas and offshore wind farms, not if the mantra of clean power is ever to be achieved.

Being still active in the industry, I witnessed the changes and the increased investment by big oil in offshore renewables. I am not arguing whether their motivation was altruism, or whether they were simply toeing a line of government (or shareholder) coercion. It exists.

For every industry-issued headline or statement on these significant investments, there's was always an argument from the hard-core environmentalists as to them being simply window-dressing, or greenwashing. No doubt some of it was and some oil and gas companies were sued for not doing enough...but that's California for you.

Now that the fickle offshore wind industry's investors are having second thoughts due to the fundamentally unrealistic, pie-in-the-sky net-zero dates that various governments invented, and the widening chasm between demand and supply, big oil is retrenching to what they do well. The "connective tissue" is still there but there's a lot less of it.

Once again, the more radical environmentalists see this as proof that big oil was never, ever going to be anything other than filthy, polluting, greedy and hell bent on killing civilisation.

[Doodoo]

Reason to not charge your vehicle at home

https://www.facebook.com/reel/674715934951583

[Doodoo]

Scottish police share findings after plant explodes (VIDEO)

https://www.rt.com/news/615746-battery-plant-fire/

The byproducts "“The amount of toxins released are equivalent to 1,000 trucks with poorly tuned diesels driving nonstop for over 10 years, according to reports,” one user commented on X."

[Doodoo]

https://www.facebook.com/reel/9898992973454906

Chins electric batteries and their technology

[Pikolim]

I agree that hydrogen feels a bit overhyped right now. The process to make it green is still inefficient and relies a lot on energy. It might work in specific niches like transport or heavy industries, but for general electricity use, solar or wind are much more direct and efficient. I think we're better off focusing on improving the existing renewables and storage tech rather than betting too much on hydrogen at this point.