115: Turning water into fuel: The challenges of making green hydrogen cheaply

The Weekly Tradecast talks about a potential energy source that could play a vital role in the fight against climate change with economist and atmospheric physicist Robert Hamwey, who formerly worked at UN Trade and Development. Hydrogen is clean, green and abundant. But there are challenges -- not least that it's expensive to make and often uses natural gas in the production process. It is also very flammable. To liquefy it for shipping, it must be chilled to just shy of absolute zero. Energy companies already make most of the world’s hydrogen fuel, leaving critics to complain about vested interests. Is hydrogen really an answer to our energy needs or just an expensive diversion? Listen in to Robert Hamwey to find out.