Comment on Shell Is Immediately Closing All Of Its California Hydrogen Stations | The oil giant is one of the big players in hydrogen globally, but even it can't make its operations work here.

• redfox@infosec.pub ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

  I agree this is a significant factor. I saw some documentaries talking about the decisions we made with the power grid pros/cons wise when you consider ac/dc. No the band 😋

  We use so much technology that requires direct current that we have at spend a bunch of resources converting it back from ac. The whole efficiency of transportation from large central generation vs smaller local less efficient stations.

  The documentary said some industrial areas in Germany? were considering providing local grid based direct current.

  I’m curious what the cost benefit analysis says about going back to local DC and not needing so many transformers.

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  • wewbull@feddit.uk ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

    A lot of things these days might benefit from a 12vDC rail everywhere, but that’s terrible for power transmission. Low volts, high current, fat cables. Not going to work.

    High voltage DC isn’t much use to anyone. You’ll still need switching power supplies everywhere to step it down. Also, connecting it to a human can be really bad.

    Yes high voltage AC is a bit of a pain, but not sure anything else is better.

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    • redfox@infosec.pub ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

      I enjoy watching debate about SMRs. Arguments for and against. Back to central generation vs local.

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