Greetings!
There are many different views on alternative energies, ranging from powering vehicles to creating electricity. We got started a little bit in a different thread, but I think this subject deserves it’s own thread.
With my limited knowledge, I’m leaning towards hydrogen because from what I understand, it can run existing engines. I envision filling my gas tank with water, and converting it to hydrogen as needed to run all my needs, driving, heating, cooling, cooking, hot water, and even electricity generation and battery charging. A single do everything, non fossil, non polluting, renewable energy fuel.
I don’t like batteries because they’re consumables, and an extra step between energy creation and energy usage. This seems terribly inefficient to me. Just create what you need, when you need it, and eliminate the need to store it whenever possible.
If they could create and utilize hydrogen in ancient times, I suspect they are withholding important technologies from us.
In more modern times, like 100+ years ago, there were external combustion engines like the stirling engine. These could be powered by any heat source, including the sun, and create much more power than today’s solar panels, in a compact & portable size. Basically you can power these engines with a candle. If you can power an engine via a heat source, you can power anything via a heat source, including creating electricity or running an air conditioning compressor, and they don’t care how that heat source is generated. It could be the sun, a candle, or any type of fuel.
I have a Lake Breeze 18" stirling engine (heat powered, external combustion) fan from the 1800’s that I paid a fortune for because it’s an antique, but it will run for hours powered only by a tea light candle. No electricity required. Some day I hope to make it into a candle powered swamp cooler or air conditioner, but even now, it is a cool, powerful, candle powered fan. With a baby food jar sized liquid candle, it will run for days on end. I’ve used both kerosene and vegetable oil liquid candles with it, AND!!! it can be powered by the sun and a magnifying glass!!! I think the possibilities are almost endless.
My point is that there are, or there has been, technologies that could change the world as we know it. As frequently off the grid nomads, I think we should explore and exploit these forgotten or suppressed technologies. I think settling for what they choose to offer us is a poor choice.
Cheers!