Man has been searching for a source of free energy for a century now. Ever since the industrial revolution, energy requirements and costs have become a very important factor in the success of any nation. I guess it should be taken as a positive sign that the search of free energy has also caught the imagination of the general public in Pakistan.
It all started when a university student from Swat reported in the newspapers, of finding a way to convert water into hydrogen fuel. A team of Pakistani engineers and scientists soon visited this student to review his research. They invited him to demonstrate this process at a meeting at Pakistan Engineering Council and to other government dignitaries. Soon after his demonstration in Islamabad, a number of engineers started reporting to TV channels on how they had developed a similar technology called “Hydrogen Kit” that can convert water into fuel for cars. And soon enough there were reports of these people selling these kits for Rs 10,000.
Even more shocking is the fact that few engineers or scientists of Pakistan have so far rubbished this technology. Even the journalist reporting this news, sensationalized incorrect amazing facts, like getting 1500 KM to a liter of water fuel, but not a single journalist tried to understanding the scientific working of this technology.
If these engineers, scientists or journalists would have researched even a little, they would have found out that these hydrogen engines have been around since 1935. and these engines are nothing but a scam. Because they use energy (as electricity for electrolysis) equal to the amount of energy produced as Hydrogen gas. Therefore the net benefit or energy production is zero for such kits or engines.
There is no free source of energy except the sun. If there were any such technology, it would have been developed by now. Just like the renewable sources of wind, waves and solar heat have been developed.
Therefore, I would like to request the media to stop sensationalizing such news items. I would also like to warn the public about investing in hydrogen kits or engines, as these are nothing but a scam.
In the end, I would like to request the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) to take action against all such engineers that have been trying to sell such kits to the public. The PEC and other such scientific organizations need to encourage a culture of research and should be investigating such claims themselves in a scientific method. It is saddening to see the state science and scientific research has been reduced to.
ENGR SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER
Peshawar