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Sinking Finances Throw Iceland's 'Hydrogen-Based Economy' In

nytimes.com -- Published: July 1, 2009
REYKJAVIK, Iceland -- The financial crisis that brought Iceland to the brink of bankruptcy has postponed this volcanic island's ambitious dream of ditching fossil fuels and transforming itself into the world's first hydrogen-based economy.Proponents of a government-sanctioned scheme to derive hydrogen from water and use it to power all ground transportation as well as Iceland's large fishing fleet admit that their plans have been set back at least 10 years and may have to be altered to allow for electric cars.

Ten years ago, Iceland started experimenting with hydrogen applications in transportation. Three city buses ran solely on hydrogen in Reykjavik for three years. As many as 16 passenger vehicles ran on hydrogen in the city. Twelve remain in operation today

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Submitted Jul 03, 2009 By: teafortwo

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DeHavilland Champion Author Toronto Posts:3,214 Points:1,007,920 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 2:07:00 PM Ignore DeHavilland Report Abuse Eveerybody's on "the Brink" thanks to stupid and greedy bankers all over the world.
balljars Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,658 Points:726,250 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 2:01:54 PM Ignore balljars Report Abuse You need money for everything.
arvo87 Champion Author New Mexico Posts:2,940 Points:584,615 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 2:00:04 PM Ignore arvo87 Report Abuse Ithinkt will still happen, only delayed
CptnCanada Champion Author Saskatoon Posts:2,774 Points:415,250 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:57:10 PM Ignore CptnCanada Report Abuse New technology always costs more at the start... just look at TV's, ABS, cruise control, this is the same but as soon as it gets into general use the price will drop as it has on everything else.
Panama Red Champion Author San Diego Posts:6,201 Points:1,556,065 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:56:59 PM Ignore Panama Red Report Abuse I don't think I'll see widespread use of hydrogen displacing fossil fuels in my lifetime, and I plan to live at least another 20 years.
72_Monte Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,840 Points:1,027,380 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:55:52 PM Ignore 72_Monte Report Abuse Keep working the hydrogen, but it's time has not yet come. Stick with electric - it's alot closer to being useable/sustainable.
CISA Champion Author Orange County Posts:2,124 Points:679,195 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:55:15 PM Ignore CISA Report Abuse Ah, yes, that's what we need: more subsidized everything. Pretty soon everything will be free!
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:8,005 Points:1,399,895 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:53:18 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse if world leaders would only read these boards everyday all their problems would be solved
billsandi Champion Author Lexington Posts:7,572 Points:1,408,225 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:51:32 PM Ignore billsandi Report Abuse The link isn't working. But is the thrust that gas is cheaper than hydrogen?
olcowboy14 Champion Author Spokane Posts:4,688 Points:744,135 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:50:16 PM Ignore olcowboy14 Report Abuse Obviously the hydrogen powered vehicles really weren't that inexpensive otherwise this would be the time to have them.
kyrunner Champion Author Lexington Posts:3,946 Points:728,635 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:50:04 PM Ignore kyrunner Report Abuse Hydrogen power will very unlikely make any major headway in my lifetime. Maybe if you are an infant today you may live to see it.
Yonkers111 Champion Author Scranton Posts:6,328 Points:536,820 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:48:18 PM Ignore Yonkers111 Report Abuse Hard to get anything changed with the cheap available fuels.
pokey469 Champion Author Hamilton Posts:1,134 Points:262,165 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:46:53 PM Ignore pokey469 Report Abuse Sounds like they are ahead of their time.
LocalSpyGuy Champion Author Tampa Posts:2,952 Points:617,185 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:45:57 PM Ignore LocalSpyGuy Report Abuse Cheers for Iceland. At least they're making an effort to come up with an alternative energy source.
lgwhitlock Champion Author Chico Posts:2,844 Points:726,950 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:45:35 PM Ignore lgwhitlock Report Abuse Sounds like they are making good efforts in this area. I for one hope they manage to succeed sooner rather than later. It would be good for us all. However I am sure it's not cheap to develop this technology...
micpie Veteran Author Oregon Posts:465 Points:116,965 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:41:12 PM Ignore micpie Report Abuse You have a better chance waiting for a vehicle that runs only on water!
micpie Veteran Author Oregon Posts:465 Points:116,965 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:40:44 PM Ignore micpie Report Abuse don't wait for a hydrogen vehicle--you'll probably die of old age!
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:8,005 Points:1,399,895 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:36:42 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse cheepo----- i hope your young we sure wont see hydrogen for probably 50 years
PithyOpiner Champion Author Stockton Posts:6,950 Points:714,855 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:33:50 PM Ignore PithyOpiner Report Abuse Well, I think that they now have to go in the direction of electric is great. But, I was hoping they would start to use ice to power all ground transportation. Now, that would have been amazing.
Cheepo Champion Author Tampa Posts:5,089 Points:2,182,115 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:31:53 PM Ignore Cheepo Report Abuse I will wait also to buy a new car till we get to hydrogen!!!
NorthglennBill Champion Author Denver Posts:3,043 Points:578,955 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:25:43 PM Ignore NorthglennBill Report Abuse This would be a good place of some good foreign aide. Probably never happen.
RAC110 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:2,368 Points:1,165,910 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:22:09 PM Ignore RAC110 Report Abuse if only we could jump in in this country and help to find a way to get this done
milespergallon Champion Author Illinois Posts:5,008 Points:1,051,670 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:15:46 PM Ignore milespergallon Report Abuse Could not get the article to display, but did a yahoo search and fond multiple articles. Wheather it is outside forces, conspiracy, or not history will tell us. The internet, however, gives a lot of information how a whole country was set on getting away from fossil fuel and they have serious financial problems. It is quite an endeavor and should be looked up to! Thhe got enough into the project to even develop a self-sustaining refueling station. Makes me wonder why NO ONE else is making the type of advances that a small country like Iceland has?
NavyStore Champion Author Seattle Posts:2,697 Points:1,189,120 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:14:57 PM Ignore NavyStore Report Abuse All the money went to the investment bankers & hedge-fund operators that rolled the system. This is why we need better oversite of these financial giants, and they need to be broken up so they are never 'to big to fail'. Maybe if they could fail, that would keep the leadership on the 'straight & narrow' instead of gambling.
day49 All-Star Author Washington Posts:932 Points:716,190 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:13:49 PM Ignore day49 Report Abuse Some alternative energy sources are ready for prime time. Hydrogen is one of them. It takes a lot of energy to produce hydrogen. Of course Iceland has a lot of geothermal and hydro sources of electricity to create hydrogen. A more viable alternative is to use the electricity to run electric transportation systems. The Chevy Volt is an excellent new method of using the power grid. It is the first of it's kind. No, not a hybrid. But an electric car with a small generator to power the electric motors and battery pack. Much more efficient than a hybrid. 40 miles without recharging and then the small engine will supply electricity to the electric driver motors. Sweet.
krell58 Champion Author Missouri Posts:5,792 Points:1,143,705 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:12:09 PM Ignore krell58 Report Abuse Hydrogen is a scheme.
Cuzilla Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:8,829 Points:1,553,365 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:10:54 PM Ignore Cuzilla Report Abuse Those dummies should never have bought our toxic-asset-backed paper! That'll teach 'em to deal with Yankees!!!
fizbos Champion Author Maine Posts:2,092 Points:1,037,660 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:07:45 PM Ignore fizbos Report Abuse Alteratives are still not ready for widespread use.
threewheeler Champion Author Seattle Posts:2,316 Points:288,380 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:07:11 PM Ignore threewheeler Report Abuse Good. Hydrogen based fuels will lead to global flooding. We need to build more boats instead of smaller cars. tomorrow's a better.
w4kh Champion Author Riverside Posts:6,886 Points:1,280,420 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:03:55 PM Ignore w4kh Report Abuse Oil was cheap and easy, and drove electric cars out of the market... Now the "hidden" costs that we did NOT want to talk about have reared up and will destroy us if we do not work hard to move away from oil and liquid petroleum-based fuels... had we pursued electric for the past 110 years, we would not be scratching our backsides today wondering about battery technology - it would be here!
jiamusi45 Champion Author Calgary Posts:1,330 Points:104,155 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:59:08 PM Ignore jiamusi45 Report Abuse Companies just don't understand the meaning of, Boons and Busts, they just spend to fast.
Bleeder Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,936 Points:819,680 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:54:19 PM Ignore Bleeder Report Abuse It is not just a local thing. This is a global crisis. Hello, is anyone surprised by this????
REKEY Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,657 Points:733,150 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:52:50 PM Ignore REKEY Report Abuse Everyone is having this problem!
Eichhornchen Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,738 Points:534,935 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:51:24 PM Ignore Eichhornchen Report Abuse Disappointing that the bottom fell out of the economy before this could get rolling
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:4,088 Points:426,545 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:44:17 PM Ignore teafortwo Report Abuse Link to full article. click here The gasbuddy system can not seem handle such a long link .......... This is a short article, but well worth the read. [Edited by: teafortwo at 7/3/2009 1:45:47 PM EST]
LexusLS400 Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,523 Points:708,575 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:37:20 PM Ignore LexusLS400 Report Abuse I agree with nigelb and with weenerdog, nigelb's parrot.
KillChain Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:2,269 Points:604,775 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:34:51 PM Ignore KillChain Report Abuse Money was flowing freely, everyone borrowed....for start up companies, plus borrowed for fix up too. Yet the monies ran out due to banks not lending money.
gas_too_high Champion Author Columbus Posts:4,391 Points:997,325 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:34:46 PM Ignore gas_too_high Report Abuse I'm tempted to blame hhydrogen for Iceland's economic meltdown, but it had more to do with the worldwide recession. However, to get at far as tey did would have required a lot of money. And in the long run, it would not itself have helped CO2. Hydrogen is an energy store, not an energy source. There is no benefit from hydrogen not achievable with better battery technology.
Bud122CA Champion Author California Posts:2,985 Points:681,430 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:31:31 PM Ignore Bud122CA Report Abuse What?? New technology.
bluebird1 Champion Author Toronto Posts:10,741 Points:2,149,200 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:27:48 PM Ignore bluebird1 Report Abuse They're still way ahead of us with all that geological hydro & other clean sources. They need the plug-in electric car for ground transport as can ramp up their hydro fairly easily. Hydrogen probably only needs to address sea transport.
Bat99 Veteran Author Denver Posts:370 Points:123,880 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:26:32 PM Ignore Bat99 Report Abuse Good. Hydrogen based fuels will lead to global flooding. We need to build more boats instead of smaller cars.
ccycles All-Star Author Missouri Posts:807 Points:637,570 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:24:11 PM Ignore ccycles Report Abuse tomorrow's a better day
Jizme Champion Author Lincoln Posts:4,943 Points:1,933,740 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:22:54 PM Ignore Jizme Report Abuse It is a start. Too bad the USA couldn't do that.
snewwee Champion Author Detroit Posts:5,004 Points:1,017,030 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:22:54 PM Ignore snewwee Report Abuse Electric cars in Iceland does not sound like a very good idea.
Focus2 Champion Author Illinois Posts:4,025 Points:1,215,275 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:22:00 PM Ignore Focus2 Report Abuse Who got it? Where is the world's money? Who got all my retirement savings? Now everything is on hold or print more money!
hmin Rookie Author Orlando Posts:73 Points:14,535 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:21:00 PM Ignore hmin Report Abuse Yup, Iceland had one of the highest GDP per person.
weenerdog Champion Author Detroit Posts:4,938 Points:943,020 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:20:24 PM Ignore weenerdog Report Abuse at least they ware working on their 'ambitious dream'. all we get is excuses and roadblocks
nigelb Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,507 Points:529,440 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:18:51 PM Ignore nigelb Report Abuse Sorry to read about the setback for Iceland but at least they are trying. Good lesson for us in the US.
OnEmptyMO Champion Author St. Louis Posts:1,962 Points:630,915 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:18:02 PM Ignore OnEmptyMO Report Abuse Iceland?
Tenshot All-Star Author Quad Cities Posts:610 Points:973,700 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:12:05 PM Ignore Tenshot Report Abuse Too bad,hope they can regroup
ddkk Sophomore Author Illinois Posts:169 Points:497,285 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:04:08 PM Ignore ddkk Report Abuse They are trying, But, . . . conservation is cheap and easy.
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:3,154 Points:624,505 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:00:23 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse at least they are moving forward