Life Cycle Assessment of Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Abstract

Hydrogen fuel cells are a promising technology for generating electricity with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. However, the environmental impact of fuel cell production, hydrogen production, and end-of-life disposal must be considered to ensure the sustainability of the technology. This paper presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of hydrogen fuel cells, which evaluates the environmental impact of the technology across its entire life cycle. The paper discusses the results of the LCA, which highlight the importance of the production of hydrogen and fuel cell components in determining the overall environmental impact of the technology. The paper also compares the environmental impact of hydrogen fuel cells with other energy technologies, such as fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. Finally, the paper identifies potential solutions to reduce the environmental impact of hydrogen fuel cells and enhance their sustainability, such as increased recycling of fuel cell components and the use of renewable energy sources for hydrogen production. Overall, the paper underscores the importance of conducting LCAs to understand the full environmental impact of emerging technologies like hydrogen fuel cells. Keywords: Hydrogen fuel cells, Life cycle assessment, Energy technology, Environmental impact, Hydrogen production, Renewable energy, Fuel cell production DOI: 10.7176/JETP/13-1-07 Publication date: January 31 st 2023