Professor Underwood beliefs are true—nothing can exceed the “round-trip” efficiency of lithium-ion batteries, for example, from solar energy to end user. But by focusing on this undeniable advantage, the global problem of energy storage is generated at very large level. It was a concern that led the institution of mechanical engineers to seriously consider hydrogen, which was an integral part of our former gas division of the modern city electrolyte machines. It can provide energy reserves, even if the biggest battery systems are in different economies of the UK and around the world. Batteries are still essential for specific applications, but to replace carbon-rich fossils threatening the climate, the ocean, and the entire biosphere are required to completely separate something that is durable, portable, and fully functional for the fuel. And in such case, the only hydrogen fulfills this requirement.
Mike Kofman, Director, planet hydrogen, Manchester, stated that Professor Underwood truly claims that the efficiency of a heat pump and Li-ion system in heat production is far better than the electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen. However, the purpose of hydrogen storage was not to reduce electricity supply from renewable sources of energy in clear time and to create heat in itself but was to generally generate, by the power turbine which works at high temperatures with steam.
There is a strong case for both. It is not hard to imagine that we can create hydrogen storage systems for electricity generation, preferably away from the populated areas. Individual homes can benefit from the local storage and heating pump system, but this raises two important questions: from where will lithium and batteries supply come, and do heat pumps work? The recovery of heat from the atmosphere is sufficient, but the unpredictable results of the heat pumps can be used, it is definitely used by the government.
It is time for a joint reflection between, organizations like IMAGE, Universities and the public, to plan our future energy strategy.