Chapter 11 - 11. Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Economy

Abstract

This chapter questions whether the development and commercialization of fuel cells should come before development of hydrogen energy technologies or hydrogen infrastructure must be in place before fuel cells can be commercialized. The unique properties of hydrogen that make it a proper energy carrier are listed. The history of hydrogen as fuel is discussed in brief. The energy system in which hydrogen has a prominent role is often referred to as the “hydrogen economy.” A global energy system in which electricity and hydrogen are produced from available energy sources and used in every application where fossil fuels are used today—in transportation, residential, commercial, and industrial sectors—is depicted in a figure. A brief review of technologies for hydrogen production, storage, and utilization is provided. With the help of figures and tables the chapter shows relevant hydrogen properties, and compares them with other fuels and ranks their effect on safety. A transition from convenient but environmentally not so friendly, and ultimately scarce energy sources (fossil fuels) to less convenient, but clean and nonexhaustable ones (renewable energy sources) seems to be imminent. Introduction of “real economies” and elimination of subsidies for the existing energy system would help in that transition. Fuel cells may be the first hydrogen technologies commercialized on a large scale, with applications ranging from power generation to transportation. This technology has a potential to revolutionize the energy business.