Bad Idea #24 "We’ll just use Hydrogen!" with Michael Liebreich

Описание: 🔍 Episode Summary:
Is green hydrogen the silver bullet for decarbonisation — or a trillion-dollar distraction?

In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas is joined by energy analyst, investor, and podcaster Michael Liebreich to unpack Bad Idea #24: “We’ll just use Hydrogen!”

Liebreich, founder of ⁠Bloomberg New Energy Finance⁠ and co-host of the ⁠Cleaning Up podcast⁠, makes the provocative case that green hydrogen is over-hyped, fundamentally flawed as a fuel, and destined to remain a niche solution rather than the backbone of a “hydrogen economy.”

Together they explore the physics, economics, and politics of hydrogen — why hype keeps returning in 20-year cycles, what role hydrogen can play in industry and fertilisers, and why pragmatism, not techno-fantasy, must drive climate strategy.

🧠 Topics Discussed:
● 💧 Why hydrogen is a “really crappy fuel” — and the laws of thermodynamics make it costly
● 📉 The difference between green, blue, grey, turquoise, and pink hydrogen
● 🏭 Current global hydrogen use: 100m tonnes/year, and why 0.1% is green ● 🚢 Why shipping liquid hydrogen is nearly impossible (density, leakage, energy loss)
● 💸 Hydrogen’s “missing trillions”: the cost gap with grey hydrogen
● 🛩️ Europe’s RED III mandate and the looming cost inflation in aviation fuels
● 🚛 Why trucks, steel, and shipping are unlikely to go hydrogen
● 🔋 The rise of electric trucks, batteries, and the hydrogen ladder framework
● ⚖️ Pragmatism vs. hype: why chasing bad ideas risks a climate backlash
● 🐢 The “Pragmatic Climate Reset”: think like a tortoise, not a hare

👨‍🏫 Guest Bio:
Michael Liebreich is founder of ⁠Bloomberg New Energy Finance⁠, managing partner of ⁠EcoPragma Capital⁠, and CEO of ⁠Liebreich Associates⁠. A former Olympic skier, he is now one of the world’s leading clean-energy analysts. He is also co-host of the podcast ⁠Cleaning Up⁠. His influential “Hydrogen Ladder” has shaped debate about where hydrogen makes sense — and where it doesn’t. Michael also writes extensively at ⁠Liebreich Associates Essays⁠.

📚 Recommended Reading & Resources:
● Michael Liebreich – ⁠The Hydrogen Ladder⁠
● Michael Liebreich – ⁠The Missing Trillions of Hydrogen⁠
● Michael Liebreich – ⁠The Pragmatic Climate Reset (Part I & II)⁠
● ⁠Hydrogen Economy⁠ – Jeremy Rifkin (2002)
● ⁠The Future of Hydrogen⁠ – IEA report (2019)
● TNO study on hydrogen costs – ⁠https://www.tno.nl/en/newsroom/2022/0...
● European RED III Directive – ⁠https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/re...
● Porsche synthetic fuels project, Chile – ⁠https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2022/...

💬 Quote Highlights:
“Hydrogen is the Swiss Army knife of energy — there’s almost always something cheaper, safer, and more convenient.” — Michael Liebreich
“If you care about the climate, the cleanest kilo of hydrogen is the one you never make.” — Michael Liebreich
“For every $1/kg cost gap, hydrogen needs $100 billion per year in subsidies. That’s the missing trillions.” — Michael Liebreich
“Politicians love hydrogen because it’s a get-out-of-jail-free card. But hype doesn’t change physics.” — Michael Liebreich
“Think like a tortoise, not like a hare: go steady, pragmatic, and win the race.” — Michael Liebreich

🌐 About WePlanet: WePlanet is a global citizen and science movement challenging bad ideas and championing evidence-based solutions for climate, nature, and human development. Learn more at⁠ https://weplanet.org⁠

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