The idea of a hydrogen economy is based on two central components, hydrogen (the gas) and fuel cells (the contraptions that combine hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity). At the outset, it is important to correct the common misconception that hydrogen is an energy resource. Hydrogen is simply a carrier mechanism, like electricity, which energy firms must produce. Unlike sunlight, tides, wind, and fossil fuels, hydrogen gas does not exist freely on earth in any significant quantity. Processors must forcibly separate hydrogen from other molecules and then tightly contain the gas before distributing it for use. They most commonly derive hydrogen from natural gas (through steam hydrocarbon reforming) or less frequently from water (through electrolysis). Both processes are energy intensive; it always takes more energy to create hydrogen than can be retrieved from it later on. Hydrogen firms presumably won’t be able to change this restriction without first changing the laws of thermodynamics and conservation of energy. - Ozzie Zehner
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 06:18:01 +0000
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