The green hydrogen paradigm shift: Energy generation for stations to vehicles

Abstract

The change from a global economy dependent upon fossil fuels to renewable fuels for the hydrogen economy is occurring now. Not in 50–60 years, but the hydrogen economy exists today. This is a “paradigm shift” of such significance and so dramatic as to underlie the making of the Third Industrial Revolution. And more importantly, the Third Industrial Revolution includes three “pillars”: distributed as on-site renewable energy generation, “green” hydrogen and advanced storage devices. Each of these pillars is not an adjustment or economic cycle or business bubble. Indeed, the hydrogen economy is global with the European Union and the nation-state of California taking the lead toward sustainable energy infrastructures. This paper addresses that paradigm shift, but also the immediate economic and business development for any region or nation-state. More significantly, when the production of hydrogen is derived from renewable energy resources, not only are there societal benefits (no pollution and atmospheric impact), but also sustainable economic development and job growth. Some of the immediate evidence can be seen in California where “civic markets” are indeed working, but also with the combination of infrastructures into hybrid systems. Herein the combination of hydrogen for stationary power with transportation fuel needs is expediting the paradigm change into sustainable economic feasibility today, not in 50 years or the next century.