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hydrothermal fuel generation

Jules Verne
Jules Verne, one of the world's greatest visionaries, wrote in 1874 in The Mysterious Island: "I believe that water will one day be employed as fuel, that hydrogen and oxygen will furnish an inexhaustible source of heat and light." 1
Fuel to power land, air and sea vehicles may be generated from hydrothermal energy. The process may be initiated by exposing filtered humid air to the cold seawater in a closed circuit, generating pure liquid H2O. Through the process of electrolysis, direct current electricity from hydrothermal power generation may be used to drive off the hydrogen molecules from the water. The resulting hydrogen gas may be liquefied by another dedicated hydrothermal energy turbine, driving a compressor to produce hydrogen fuel. The downside of hydrogen fuel, however, is the relatively high cost to assure safety in transport.

Alternatively, nitrogen may be sequestered from air and combined with the hydrogen gas to form ammonia NH3, which is an excellent fuel and relatively safe in transport. This illuminates a path to a source of fuel beyond the hydrocarbon era. Island countries, such as the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas, with warm inland saline lakes, and deep cold water just off shore may then produce all their cooling and electrical power needed and be self sufficient for fuel needs. The Bahamas, Haiti, Aruba and other island nations may export the fuel that is in excess of their needs creating a new source of wealth.


  1. Pereira, Gerard P., "Optimal Management of Natural Energy Resources for the Benefit of the People of Haiti".

This entry was written and contributed by Ted Jagusztyn, CoTherm of America Corporation.

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