Time for some chemistry lesson, maybe stuff for another post: it’s corrosive and leaks very easily. How is hydrogen used. How is it transported? As a gas ? Liquified at extremely high pressure and/or low temperature? Ad a compound it would typically require Carbon, which would make it natural gas…
Macron betting on hydrogen to make France an energy superpower? That’s an idea so staggeringly stupid that he probably jumped on it and grabbed it with both arms before some other EU politician could beat him to it.
They’re already buying a lot of nuclear-generated electricity. But as things stand, Germany will also want to buy hydrogen from France, and France is keen to sell it. My next article (coming out on Sunday) will go into the details.
Hydrogen has been hyped up a lot. And still is. But the easiest and most profitable way to make hydrogen is not to use electricity but natgaz. So somehow, it made sense during while because it could be sold as a nice and green energy transition while making natgaz all the more vital.
Now, of course, while things changed a lot since 2022, hydrogen remains as unpractical and expensive to produce and handle at scale as before.
Of course, it doesn't mean that the Germans (and even more so if they don't want to re-open their nuclear plants for political reasons) realised they will need French nuclear electricity to balance their grid. So after years trying to make the French close their plants, they might give them a bit of a break. That could well be the deal.
Zero-CO2 hydrogen depends on how much taxpayer money Germany is willing to waste. Which, I’m confident, is plenty. But you’re absolutely right, French nuclear near the border is probably part of the deal too.
Hum… I'm not convinced there could be enough of the stuff to make a real difference whatever the money wasted on it.
But it doesn't have to be an economically viable option.
It might just be a public relation thing. Because if nuclear could be sold as a way to produce the hydrogen that would make it possible not to buy gas from the all-purposes archvillain Putin, who, especially among the green/left side, will dare to go against building new power plants ?...
The spending on military goods might save the economy to a certain degree, but it comes at a high price: Military hardware costs three times. First when it is produced, second when it is maintained and third when somebody has to serve in the military instead of doing something productive.
It is unclear to me how Germany - with all the other problems we face at the moment - will be able to rearm itself, increase the size of the military while staying a somewhat wealthy country. It will mean more debt, even higher taxes and less freedom. Emigration numbers will go up.
Enter the Cantillon Effect. The people who benefit are those closest to the government spending, everyone else gets depreciated fiat and high cost of living. Isn’t central planning grand?
A perpetual state of denial, fostered by a severe case of stupidity. Your work is so enjoyable, thank you. They will be back on Russian Gas or there will be a revolution imo. Poverty is not a solution to their hyped up climate catastrophe.
Thank you! I guess it will take just two or three more major blackouts. Like in Spain, but this time with the power gone for days instead of hours. Only then will they scramble to save their skins. Renewables will be their undoing, ironically.
Time for some chemistry lesson, maybe stuff for another post: it’s corrosive and leaks very easily. How is hydrogen used. How is it transported? As a gas ? Liquified at extremely high pressure and/or low temperature? Ad a compound it would typically require Carbon, which would make it natural gas…
One of my earliest posts dealt with Germany’s hydrogen phantasies. But as this unfolds, hydrogen will definitely warrant another deep dive:
https://open.substack.com/pub/brawlstreetjournal/p/germany-clings-to-its-hydrogen-fantasiesa
Macron betting on hydrogen to make France an energy superpower? That’s an idea so staggeringly stupid that he probably jumped on it and grabbed it with both arms before some other EU politician could beat him to it.
He just needs someone desperate enough to buy large amounts from him: Germany. Like a heroin dealer, if you will.
Are they buying hydrogen or nuclear generated electricity? If they're going to sell power alone then France surely stand to benefit?
They’re already buying a lot of nuclear-generated electricity. But as things stand, Germany will also want to buy hydrogen from France, and France is keen to sell it. My next article (coming out on Sunday) will go into the details.
Yes… I'm not so sure about this hydrogen thing.
Hydrogen has been hyped up a lot. And still is. But the easiest and most profitable way to make hydrogen is not to use electricity but natgaz. So somehow, it made sense during while because it could be sold as a nice and green energy transition while making natgaz all the more vital.
Now, of course, while things changed a lot since 2022, hydrogen remains as unpractical and expensive to produce and handle at scale as before.
Of course, it doesn't mean that the Germans (and even more so if they don't want to re-open their nuclear plants for political reasons) realised they will need French nuclear electricity to balance their grid. So after years trying to make the French close their plants, they might give them a bit of a break. That could well be the deal.
Zero-CO2 hydrogen depends on how much taxpayer money Germany is willing to waste. Which, I’m confident, is plenty. But you’re absolutely right, French nuclear near the border is probably part of the deal too.
Hum… I'm not convinced there could be enough of the stuff to make a real difference whatever the money wasted on it.
But it doesn't have to be an economically viable option.
It might just be a public relation thing. Because if nuclear could be sold as a way to produce the hydrogen that would make it possible not to buy gas from the all-purposes archvillain Putin, who, especially among the green/left side, will dare to go against building new power plants ?...
I agree, that's definitely the frame they're going for. As to Germany's insistence to go all in on hydrogen: they're currently planning to build the world's largest hydrogen pipeline network (9,040 kilometers). See: https://brawlstreetjournal.substack.com/p/germany-clings-to-its-hydrogen-fantasiesa
Yes... So we will see if they build this network. And if they really have anything worth pumping in...
It’s weird how every time they double down on green energy, they also double down on stupid, too.
Couldn't have said it better
The spending on military goods might save the economy to a certain degree, but it comes at a high price: Military hardware costs three times. First when it is produced, second when it is maintained and third when somebody has to serve in the military instead of doing something productive.
It is unclear to me how Germany - with all the other problems we face at the moment - will be able to rearm itself, increase the size of the military while staying a somewhat wealthy country. It will mean more debt, even higher taxes and less freedom. Emigration numbers will go up.
I don't like that outlook.
100% agree. No way this is sustainable in the long run. But if you only think in terms of election cycles, it doesn’t really matter.
Enter the Cantillon Effect. The people who benefit are those closest to the government spending, everyone else gets depreciated fiat and high cost of living. Isn’t central planning grand?
Central planning sounds so 80s. The EU calls it “strategic coordination”.
European people have less and less money to buy brand new cars ? Who cares ?
They will pay for tanks. And you can bet everything will be done so they will have no say about it....
Sure looks like it!
Thank you! Ursula, the immaculate bunny, heading down the rabbit hole and picking up speed. Dragging the "Net Zero" countries with her? 😉
You shall own nothing and be happy
Great Stuff.
Thank you! 🙏
A perpetual state of denial, fostered by a severe case of stupidity. Your work is so enjoyable, thank you. They will be back on Russian Gas or there will be a revolution imo. Poverty is not a solution to their hyped up climate catastrophe.
Thank you! I guess it will take just two or three more major blackouts. Like in Spain, but this time with the power gone for days instead of hours. Only then will they scramble to save their skins. Renewables will be their undoing, ironically.
Yep, 2-3 days with no electricity will be a real hard lesson. Hard lessons are when we learn the most😢