Plug Power Inc (PLUG)

[Jack_Bolander]

Paolo is correct, but it is much easier said than done.

First, it needs to be a blend, because pure hydrogen is much more difficult to handle than Nat Gas. So 10-20% might work.
Higher concentrations , and your kitchen range and water heaters will explode.

Hydrogen in a gas pipeline can't be used in fuel cells either because fuel cells need 99.999% pure hydrogen. Even with expensive gas separation technologies we can't get to those purities.

So yes, low ratios of hydrogen can be comingled in natural gas pipelines after some extensive retrofitting. We already know this works. As a ratepayer, I don't want to pay extra for something I don't need.

But here is the difficult issue. We know hydrogen works in many different applications, so would you really want to add expensive hydrogen into a gas pipeline and displace the cheaper natural gas ? The mix works, but the economics may not.

Sorta like , putting Premium Gasoline is an old Volkswagen ; sure it works, but it was just fine with regular gasoline at $1.00 cheaper