Seems like they ignore ICE efficiency of approx 15% (85% waste). That would reduce the number of turbines to 15,000. Also fuel cells give you the chance to eliminate heavy engines/transmissions which combined with lighter vehicle structures would make the numbers even better. On the other hand, I suspact their 50% capacity utilization is optimistic - isn't 30% the number used commercially?

John

Though obviously interesting, it also assumes a static output level for turbines. The efficiency of turbines is still increasing as the market expands, not to mention the efficiency of other sources of renewables (e.g. many commentators expect solar panels to produce energy on a par with fossil fuels within the next ten years. http://www.sunpowercorp.com/html/Technical%20Papers/pdf/swanson.pdf)
In parallel with more advanced ways of converting energy into hydrogen, and keeping in mind the possibility that breakthroughs in battery and fuel cell technology may eventually provide another avenue for storage entirely, these numbers should not scare us off the path of attempting a renewables-based future. Even ten years ago the very idea would have been laughed at by many who are now taking it very seriously - we must not let the enormity of the task daunt us - the stakes are too high!

In fact - with a combination of technologies emerging - a broad-based energy future becomes visible, combining the power of the sun, the wind, the sea and biomass (microbiological included). Imagine the power of the sun being harnessed for cars by the very roads they drive on, for instance! Hydrogen may not be the final tool to get us there, but it is the most exciting one we have currently!

What they seem to always forget is hydrogen is the end goal its not the short term goal.

As such you have to factor in 15-20 years of progress and breakthroughs before you see what its supposed to be like at its start.

Also as far as america goes they plan to use 5th gen nuke plants that use such high temp systems that they can then directly use the heat to do hydrogen extraction wich is supposed to be far more efficient then other hydrogen production methods.

The point of wich isnt to totaly replace oil but to fill the gap as oil declines over the next 100 years or so.

I think we will have a hybrid energy market in 20 years. Some car/houses/corporations will use hydrogen, others natural gas, and others the good ole gasoline/diesel mix.

By then, windturbines will have grown from their current 5MW models to a more appreciable 10MW model, reducing by 50% the number of turbines required for the same energy output. Their manufacturing cost will be so cheap that nuclear power station will look astronomically expensive next to it, compared on the MW/capex ratio over the lifetime of both systems.

Biomass will be a basic fuel source, providing methane biogas to power fuel cells. Biomass being the manure produced by livestock, waste treated in city water treatment plants, wood residues from forest maintenance clearings, grass gained from the prairie, processing of corn, wheat and soy wastes to heat or biogas generation.

Solar PV panels on housing developments will allow generation of hydrogen during work hours, when people are out of home, working in their office buildings. Hydrogen then being used to power a fuel cell, when people are back home after working hours.

Geothermal energy will be a mainstream energy resource, powering turbines providing baseload electricity during the night to generate hydrogen.

Solar rooftop systems combined with battery electric cars are FAR more efficient than fuel cells. Using only a 4.9 kw system on our roof, we generate enough energy in the daytime to give us enough credit to charge up two Electric cars using cheap off-peak power.

We don't buy gas, and drive 3000 to 4000 miles per month. The electric car is so efficient, it can go up to 130 miles on the energy equivalent of less than a gallon of gasoline. The EV1 went 110 miles on the energy equivalent of about a half gallon of gas. But with no pollution, with no oil changes, little tire wear, and no need to bomb third world countries or elect oil dictators here and abroad.