BIO/AGRO FUELS HOAX – Pakistan needs a new energy policy…

Nasir Aziz
nasiraziz@pakaffairs.com

I have always been a big proponent of Hydrogen Power and can’t dream or play enough with it. It always made sense to me, an abundantly available source and eco-friendly at the same time. Although it requires cracking of water into Hydrogen and Oxygen through electrolysis, which requires other forms of energy to do just that; a premise used by many other alternative energy enthusiasts as negative about Hydrogen as an energy source. But what they forget, or maybe are unaware of the recent advancements in metallurgical sciences, possible use of existing Nuclear Plants and in addition “Hydrogen on Demand” kits installed in the car engines makes it economically viable and practically realistic. They are stuck in their philosophy so lets not worry and leave them there to make their BioFuels all they want.

The BioFuels philosophy is full of flaws and defeats the actual purpose of cheaper and environmentally friendly energy. The amount of water wasted to grow these crops, farming equipment burning gasoline, and other processing related pollution that adds to our ecosystem usually is ignored in their arguments. The Hydrogen Club takes the water and breaks it apart economically for consumption as an energy source, all the water that will go into crop growing otherwise!

Here is a good article that busts some BioFuel myths: The Great Biofuel Hoax
Here are some highlights:

Myth #1: Agro-fuels are clean and green
Myth #2: Agro-fuels will not result in deforestation
Myth #3: Agro-fuels will bring rural development
Myth #4: Agro-fuels will not cause hunger
Myth #5: Better “second-generation” agro fuels are just around the corner

BioFuels can be looked upon as a good experiment without real hope for globally sustainable energy . The answer really lies in Hydrogen in my opinion.

Even a child can tell you that this argument will not make Oil Companies very happy. No to mention IMF, World Bank, and other oil interest organizations, politicians and governments. They have the power and resources to delay or outright kill the notion of competing alternative energies. Hydrogen usually is targeted by leveraging on its established negative publicity as explosive, highly flammable, hydrogen bomb, etc. This puts both the BioFuelers and Slickers on the same defensive ironically.

Hydrogen can not fully replace crude oil as an energy source. We will still need oil for petroleum based products and some transportation and energy needs. Hydrogen does look promising though, once produced commercially can result in 40-70% (my guestimate) decrease in oil consumption worldwide.

Here are a few ways Hydrogen can be produced economically:

• Heat energy that is wasted by Nuclear Plants can be re-purposed for production of Hydrogen and Oxygen
• Turbines in Dams can be used to generate Hydrogen as both water and electric power are freely available on-site
• Solar and Wind energy can be harnessed to produce and store hydrogen
• Advancements in metallurgy and efficient electrolytes can facilitate “Hydrogen on Demand” cells/kits for safe use in automobiles
• Freely available geo-thermal energy can be used in production of Hydrogen
• Harnessing energy from coastal waves and on-site saline water provides for a good water/electrolyte solution required for hydrogen seperation
• and many more…

Pakistan is a good candidate for such alternatives in many respects. A clear-cut energy mandate can put us ahead of many emerging and developing countries and save us tremendous amounts of money by reducing our oil dependency and its imports. Increase in transportation and resulting pollution in major Pakistani cities is not being addressed beyond stalled discussions and resentments. Forgive my ignorance if such arrangements exist, please do notify me. I have done my research and have not found anything that addresses these issues yet. I guess we are too busy fighting suicide bombers and not addressing the terror we are creating ourselves on daily basis by adding poison to our own air. While by burning Hydrogen, the only by-product you get is water itself for the most part!

Pakistan has all the resources available to go Hydrogen based:

• Consistent Wind Corridors in Northern NWFP, Kashmir, Baluchistan and Sindh Areas (Wind – Based on my meager research)
• Nuclear Power – Yes, we are one (Nuclear)
• Sea Water – south coast (Coastal Wave Energy)
• Snow, fresh water, glacier ice
• Plentiful Sunlight over most of Pakistan (Solar)
• Geothermal energy in the NorthWest

These are far and few, and not to mention all the human skills and resources we can possibly think of. We have all the ingredients available to go forward with this energy source. All we need is a energy policy based on this vision at government level. It can do miracles for the country in many respects – just use your imagination.

Iceland is officially the first country that is moving towards oil free economy by replacing it with Hydrogen. Their advantage is abundant and freely available geothermal energy and a very small population. It’s a good country to watch and learn from. But compared to Iceland, Pakistan by adopting the same path and policy will create a huge impact not just on the country but globally too; we after all rank as one of the most populous nations in the world.

I will lay this out, and I hope that its not true and our hands are not tied down to some crazy IMF, World Bank, or other Oil Cartel policies or vested interests. To my understanding we are done with IMF loans already, so one less beast to deal with. Regardless, such issues should not become a hurdle to our cleaner and sustainable energy future. Masses should be made aware of Hydrogen based economy, sustainability, and working prototypes to create a “democratically” backed vision.