What factor can potentially give liquid hydrogen a higher cradle-to-launch carbon footprint than a methane engine?
Answer
The energy intensity required to cool and store hydrogen using current grid power.
Comparing full supply chains, the significant energy input needed for the cryogenics (cooling and storage) of liquid hydrogen, when powered by current grid electricity, can result in a higher cradle-to-launch carbon footprint compared to a well-managed methane engine.
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