Smelling Land: The Hydrogen Defense Against Climate Catastrophe

by David Sanborn Scott

Climate destabilization is the most serious environmental threat of the 21st century. If not stopped, it will bring economic collapse; mass migrations and global wars as countries vie for depleting resources such as fossil fuel, water or even the ability to grow food. Resolving these escalating challenges will be the most important thing we face this century as we scramble to find alternatives to fossil fuels. In this timely and important new book, Dr. David Sanborn Scott, one of Canada's foremost energy experts, clearly demonstrates that we have only one real choice. We must adopt sustainable energy sources that do not emit carbon dioxide and then use these sources to manufacture the twin carbon-free energy currencies, hydrogen and electricity. Together hydrogen and electricity can provide the full menu of civilization's energy needs. Hydrogen is the single fuel that can be manufactured by any non-fossil energy source - water, solar, or wind. Hydrogen can power free-range transportation - like ships and cars. Hydrogen will allow windmills to turn and airplanes to fly. You can use hydrogen to make electricity and vice versa. Together hydrogen and electricity are essential to any defense against climate catastrophe. Yet both the public and governments seem unaware of the reality that any solution will require hydrogen as its most critical component. Smelling Land is the only book that sets out a comprehensive "what we can do about it" strategy. It explains how energy systems really work and, in particular, the vital role of energy currencies (such as electricity). It gives insights into energy systems of today, and shows pathways to a brighter tomorrow. Smelling Land will become the book that best encapsulates the zeitgeist of our time and, in that sense, will mimic Silent Spring that went before it.

482 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2008

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very highly recommended! At the very least, it's a good eye-opener book, with some really great insights on real ways to tackle climate-change. My major beef, which is HUGE in the practical sense ("practical" being what this book attempts to be), is the time-scale that David Scott is so optimistic about. He makes a good case for a full-fledged hydrogen economy, but seems to be satisfied with a rather long timeline. The problem is, even if we succeed in meeting the timeline he lays out, I'm not convinced that it would be in time. He talks about the hydrogen economy "starting to shape up" around 2050, which many experts seem to think might be too late. And he seems to dismiss other renewable sources too easily. He takes for granted innovation in his own field (hydrogen), and dismisses other sources due to their current immaturity, which just seems backwards.

And speaking of Mr. Scott's field, his tremendous involvement in hydrogen infrastructure and research is both a positive and a negative. Yes, he definitely knows what he's talking about, but it also seems like he's looking at things through rose-tinted glasses. Not that I blame him -- when you utterly invest yourself in something as he's done his entire life, I'm sure that it sort of becomes your baby. I'm concerned that this might make him much less willing to accept that maybe his pride and joy won't be the be-all-end-all of the future. All I'm saying i simply that I recommend taking his well-meaning conclusions with a grain of salt.

It seems like I filled this "review" with only the bad points, but I suppose I'm just explaining the only reasons I couldn't bring myself to give it 5 stars. It's a comprehensive book that takes on a few over-arching topics (like rehashing climate-change and energy system history for anyone uninformed), before moving onto the practical things that are probably completely new to you. Highly recommended!

As an aside, I plan (and might recommend others) to read Joseph Romm's The Hype About Hydrogen, just to balance things out :)

[Jordan Venn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pertinent and invigorating read. Should be mandatory reading for any politicians that have any influence on energy policy.