Hydrogen

A friend sent me an article from the Grand Forks newspaper showing how North Dakota may become the center for hydrogen production. They will produce hydrogen and CO2 and then bury the CO2 underground. The more efficient way is to use electric power generated by thorium nuke plants to make hydrogen by electrolysis of water as this produces no CO2. Hydrogen is the only carbon free solution to air travel. In planes the weight to power ratio is important and here is where hydrogen shines. When it comes to energy per unit of weight hydrogen is the champ. Battery power gives one MJ/kg, jet fuel gives 43 KJ/kg and hydrogen 130 KJ/kg. In addition the density of liquid hydrogen is one forth that of jet fuel so you can get by with less fuel that has more bang for the buck.