New Clean Energy Production Method Might Lower Carbon Dioxide Levels Too!

Scientists may have discovered a new technique that solves many of the world's energy problems, and a few of its environmental problems too. A new report from researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory describes a way to produce ultra-clean hydrogen fuel while capturing CO2 and neutralize ocean acidification... all at the same time.

The potential giant leap in clean energy production involves mixing salt water and silicate minerals and then running an electrical current through the solution (aka "electrolysis"). By using a novel and relatively simple technique, all kinds of good things happen, including increasing the carbon content of the water greatly while simultaneously creating acid-reducing bicarbonate.

Experts say this technique produces "super-green" hydrogen because, unlike most methods (which are "carbon neutral" at best), it actually consumes CO2. The biggest obstacle will be lowering the cost and scaling the technology up in a way that makes real-world production economically viable. Also, technological hurdles like hydrogen gas storage and transportation problems must be overcome to make this a long-term clean energy solution.

Still, there is great hope that this new technology will lead to an abundance of clean fuel as well as a possible reduction in greenhouse gases. According to Greg Rau, study co-author:

"We think this suggests a process that is significantly cheaper and safer than other chemical air capture methods that have been proposed."

Learn some mo': Scientists Invent Super-Clean Hydrogen Fuel Technique That Could Save Us All