Basic laws of physics burst green hydrogen bubble

I’ve always been puzzled by former chief scientist Alan Finkel’s strong endorsement of green hydrogen. For any energy source to be viable, it must generate more energy than it consumes in production. The fact that producing green hydrogen from water requires more energy than the hydrogen itself can provide is rooted in the basic principles of energy conversion and thermodynamics; challenges that technology or economics cannot overcome. For an energy source to support an economy, it must deliver a net positive energy balance, even before considering its economic viability. Given Alan Finkel’s influence, politicians have allocated significant taxpayer funds to green hydrogen based on his statements. Since he is undoubtedly aware of the laws of physics, it would be important for him to explain the reasoning behind his position on this matter.

Don McMillan, Paddington, Qld

Well done, Judith Sloan. Blood from a stone is putting it kindly. I studied science in the 1960s and hydrogen from water was then dismissed as alchemy. Nothing has changed since. The ingredients for such fantasies seem to be a gullible government looking for fashionable causes, a propensity for largesse with taxpayers’ money and rent-seekers who are good salesmen. Mix it all together and you might just be re-elected. We deserve better not just from the government but all those who gave it such blatantly poor advice.

Nick Palenthorpe, Turramurra, NSW

Judith Sloan has yet again exposed the prevailing nonsense of green ideologies (“Time to cut our losses on hydrogen fantasy”, 8/10). She notes that for the Gladstone hydrogen project the additional energy needed would be at least twice the existing capacity of the east coast grid. High transport costs for hydrogen also loom large. Green ideologies offer a narrow focus on perfect outcomes without the limiting considerations of challenges and effects of getting there. To quote Chris Uhlmann, that is SEP (Someone Else’s Problem). Unfortunately, despite the barrage of government subsidies for green hydrogen, the Someone Else brigade is quietly disappearing.

Peter Clarke, Corinda, Qld

There were two articles this week that are worth connecting. The first was the substantial funding being spent on questionable areas of research (“Absurd research”, 8/10) and, second, the comments from the Origin CEO that there were too many risks to warrant continuing with green hydrogen projects (“Origin Energy exits hydrogen in latest blow to Labor’s net zero targets”, 3/10). While the long-term benefits of any research are often unpredictable, I couldn’t help but think our society would be a better place if the dollars for these more obscure areas of research were directed at enhancing the prospects of green hydrogen.

Ken Clarke, Tweed Heads, NSW

Judith Sloan effectively debunks the myths that green hydrogen from renewable energy will take over Australia’s role as a major LNG exporter any time soon, or that green steel made from the use of hydrogen is imminent. Any energy technology that consumes more electricity in its makeup than what it delivers is patently absurd and, in the context of the goal of emissions reductions, the widespread devastation of thousands of kilometres of natural carbon sinks by the imposition of industrial wind and solar farms adds to the absurdity. Yet this reflects the whole sorry story of the renewables fantasy where, along with the environmental destruction, the massive materials requirement in renewable equipment, batteries, transmission and EVs has rendered their impact on reducing global emissions next to useless.

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic

Given the abandonment of green hydrogen by Origin Energy, minister Chris Bowen’s response is bizarre. He argued that “green hydrogen still had a big future”. I think we should all be allowed a peek into his garage. Something big is obviously going on in there that we should know about.

Peter Sweeney, Balmain, NSW

Judith Sloan writes of the almost insurmountable difficulty in securing enough renewable energy to make green hydrogen. It is a bit like a perpetual motion machine. You make lots of renewables to make lots of green hydrogen to make lots of renewables to make lots of green hydrogen

Ian Morrison, Forrest, ACT