Terrance Howard says he is bringing a new form of flight to Uganda using the geometry of hydrogen.
In a recent clip, Empire star Lucious Lyon shares his plan to save Uganda from the world...with hydrogen.
Towards the clean energy transition, the industry is advancing in understanding the concept of hydrogen. Now, as the hype or hope for hydrogen surfaces it is no doubt that it has become a buzzword.
Over the last week, the BET star might be taking the hype or hope a bit extreme as he shared his plans to develop a new hydrogen technology in Uganda. Terrance Howard, a Hollywood star with decades of screen time and a questionable background in chemistry, shared his plans to turn Uganda into a center stage for technology with hydrogen.
Terrance goes on to introduce this geometric of hydrogen - did he mean the Geometrical representation of the hydrogen atom? If so, how are his Lynchpins behave as a swarm, as a colony, that can defend a nation going to help Uganda defeat (some unknown conflicts), also remove plastic from the ocean, and then harvest food?
Hydrogen is not a silver bullet - as many within the energy industry are coming to realize. So while Terrance hopes to save Uganda from itself with Hydrogen atoms and an object he held closely (assume a Lynchpin of some sort) throughout his ‘world changing’ speech…lets see some actual possibilities for Hydrogen.
Hydrogen is literally everywhere
Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of domestic resources, such as natural gas, nuclear power, biomass, and renewable power like solar and wind..and water! You know H20; two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Hydrogen is a premium product.
Hydrogen has been identified since 1650, when Théodore de Mayerne first poured dilute sulfuric acid on iron to produce a gas of “inflammable air”. Then Jaques Charles in 1783 made a hydrogen balloon large enough to carry him and a colleague over a distance of 36 km at a height of up to 550m. In more recent times, well not really but 1910 the Haber process created ammonia. Ammonia is a key input for fertilizer production used primarily in the agriculture sector.
Besides keeping us hydrated and for farming - Hydrogen is also heavily used in several manufacturing processes. For example to remove sulfur from natural gas and from refined petroleum products, such as gasoline or petrol, jet fuel, kerosene, diesel fuel, and PMS.
Terrance was not wrong, hydrogen has taken center stage with its several possbilities. Clean hydrogen has also been classified as key for low carbon processes to decarbonization for the aviation industry; but according to Terrance his invented new form of flight will also replace drones, helicopters and the planes.
He’s also not wrong that African countries like Uganda have an opportunity to use hydrogen to assist economic development; with the clean hydrogen market potentially reaching roughly €10 trillion in 2050.
As the world races to reach net zero, there is a need for cleaner processes - and hydrogen can solve that too. Countries like Namibia, have in fact taken bold steps towards creating a hydrogen future.
While this video clip was amusing to watch; it also gave a little sense of saviour-master-ship and ultimately the risk of misinformation for possibilities that can protect our planet. Mr Howard is obviously certain his form of flight is set to change the world. All he needs for the people of Uganda an opportunity to spread this and sell these products throughout the world, is fertile land to develop…
Until next time,
Oghosa
Well, well, well, Terrence is just being Terrence. This wouldn't be the first time a Hollywood star feels like the chosen one to 'save' a country in Africa or Southeast Asia from itself.
That being said, I sincerely hope people do not begin to take his statements too seriously. He will move on to another project soon enough!
No energy source is a silver bullet, which is why the world, especially Africa, needs to explore ALL sources, while developing low carbon technologies to tackle climate change.