[landemva]

That just compared coal 'to produce energy once' to batteries which have no inherent energy. These are different things.

Coal is an existing form of energy reserve which has stable long-term storage and can be consumed once. Batteries are not native energy, though batteries can be manufactured and then charged to temporarily time-shift energy.

[jnsaff2]

Sure, same goes for hydrogen. I don't think there are any hydrogen deposits that can be readily used.

But important distinction nonetheless.

[landemva]

Yes, I also see hydrogen as a energy storage medium. Compressed air and pumped hydro and hydraulic accumulators have similar functions.

Sometimes the media conflates energy production, storage, and transport. This leads to confusing arguments.