The following table shows the energy production using cactus, a renewable source, compared to hydrogen.
The advantages of the nopal or cactus are in producing a gaseous fuel such as methane, for which there are already facilities for compression, transportation and distribution, which are the same as natural gas, however, the origin is 100% renewable and does not generate carbon dioxide.
Hydrogen is more expensive and complicated to produce than methane, and transportation at the same pressure requires four times the volume of containers for the same energy capacity.
Nopal / cactus biogas | Hydrogen | ||
Main applications | Transport, heating, direct combustion, power generation | Transport. | |
Storage pressure | 350 bar | 350 bar | |
Energy equivalence | 0.240 liters of methane (at 350 bar) | 1 liter of H2 ( at 350 bar) | |
Formula | CH 4 | H 2 | |
Obtaining | Anaerobic fermentation | Hydrolysis, grey natural gas | |
Type of energy source | Primary, obtained from photosynthesis | Secondary, obtained by an electric current | |
Production technology | Widely known, gentle process in temperature and pressure | Still in development for large-scale application, few service stations and vehicles. | |
Light vehicles | Vehicles can be converted to run on Cactus Biogas in a similar way to CNG. Dual fuel gasoline – biogas. Economic conversion US1,500-2,000 / vehicle | Highly complex and expensive. Vehicles manufactured to use hydrogen, the conversion is difficult. If you use a hydrogen fuel cell you must add an electric motor, the costs are higher than an electric vehicle. | |
Fuel cost | Similar to natural gas US36.47 /MWh | Expensive, US165.50/MWh | |
Distribution by ducts | It uses the same facilities and equipment as natural gas and can be injected directly into gas pipelines. | Requires special dedicated facilities, dedicated equipment and facilities, requires new construction, supply stations. | |
Gases eliminated | CO 2 , nitrogen oxides, Oxygen in the process of photosynthesis. | Water vapor, only if primary production is with renewable energies such as photovoltaic or wind. | |
Effect on climate change | Neutral, the CO2 produced is fixed by plants in photosynthesis and is greater than that produced by burning fuel. | If the source of energy is natural gas, its effect is an increase in CO2 in the environment. | |
Externalities | It creates permanent jobs and recovers land for agriculture. It is an ecological and clean process. | A clean process does not generate pollution, a very positive perception among the population. |