Microbe Hydrogen Production

Numerous readers responded with input, ideas, and concerns to Methane Availability / Generation and the comment from a reader that hydrogen might also be generated by microbes. The reader that suggested hydrogen might also be generated by microbes evidently had a good insight http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=110648, http://www.microbialcellfactories.com/content/4/1/36, and many more. Therefore, with the current technologies, various fuels and/or fuel stocks (including hydrogen and methane) can be generated by microbes from combinations of air, water, waste, trash, compost, sunlight, and/or minimal electrical input.

Another reader asked:

"Why not stick with gasoline and diesel if Exxon and others are able to
make it renewable from algae?"

Internal combustion engines produce harmful compounds including carbon-monoxide, nitrogen compounds, and particulates. Lighter hydro-carbons like methane and propane as well as hydrogen produce much less of these pollutants in internal combustion engines. Furthermore, hydrogen and methane can be used in fuel cells which are much cleaner, quieter, and more efficient.

"Why go to methane as an intermediate solution rather than going directly
to hydrogen?"

Current technology does not provide an efficient method for transporting hydrogen. Methane on the other hand is currently routed to homes via pipelines (CNG - compressed natural gas) and further compressed for use in numerous fleet vehicles fuel tanks (LNG - liquid natural gas). Furthermore, there are vast supplies of methane, other fuels can be efficiently converted to methane (e.g. coal, oil, and oil shales) and methane can also be renewable via various methods.

However, multiple energy transportation approaches should be researched (e.g. electrical super conductors, hydrogen, methane, propane, butane, ethanol, gasoline, diesel) along with multiple energy sources, and efficiencies. Then the optimal approaches will be found which will probably be some combination of those along with something(s) no one expects.