Energy

There is an urgent need to reduce CO2: is renewable hydrogen the answer to our CO2 problems? Hydrogen is versatile: it can be used for heating, power, and transportation and, therefore, in many industries. The worldwide potential of renewable hydrogen is huge: which country will step up to be the leading green hydrogen economy? National Hydrogen And Fuel Cell Day National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day. A clean and sustainable future for everyone! In the United States, October 8 is National Hydrogen And Full Cell Day (fun fact – this aptly chosen date stands for the atomic weight of hydrogen, which is 1.008). This National Day is still little-known, but not only scientists seem to celebrate Hydrogen Day. What is hydrogen and fuel cells? A fuel cell is a device that converts chemical potential energy (energy stored in molecular bonds) into electrical energy. A PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) cell uses hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2) as fuel. The products of the reaction in the cell are water, electricity, and heat. This year, French industrial giant Air Liquide revealed their plans to build a new plant that produces renewable liquid hydrogen in Las Vegas, Nevada, which ´will have a production capacity of 30 tons of liquid hydrogen a day. ‘Air Liquide is committed to producing hydrogen to meet the renewable requirements of the mobility market in California’. Recommended:  Hydrogen-Powered Tug Launched In Antwerp: Unique In Belgium Green Hydrogen Economy: Supply Is Only Half Of The Equation The announcement adds to the sense of a trend in the emerging sector. "Green hydrogen seems like it’s at some sort of possible inflection," said Ben Gallagher, an expert on carbon and emerging technology at Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables. "There’s definitely something in the air." Although hydrogen is still in its infancy, this hydrogen trend could turn into a global phenomenon. Investors and policymakers are starting to get triggered. More and more countries expressed interested in green hydrogen: the potential of the element is seen worldwide. There is an urgent need to reduce CO2 and renewable hydrogen could be the answer – at least according to these nine countries. {youtube}                                           Green Hydrogen Economy: The Enormous Potential Worldwide                                                 Energy Storage in Hydrogen : Does this beat batteries? Australia Steps Up It’s Participation In The Hydrogen Market The green hydrogen is not that big of a hype in Australia - yet. The country is planning to replace fossil fuel export with an alternative: for Japan, perhaps? "Generally, we’d be looking for a country that is an energy importer and is seeking a low-emission fuel,” said Paul Graham, energy flagship chief economist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, to Green Tech Media . Canada: Green Hydrogen And Fuel Cells Canada Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association The Great White North not only wants to produce the hydrogen gas but wants to manufacture fuel cells. Canada is well-positioned to benefit from growing international demand for hydrogen and fuel cells. Canada has a hydrogen and fuel cell sector that thrives in export markets and that include global leader Ballard Power Systems. France: Hydrogen A Rage In France, hydrogen is al well-known word, as then-Minister Hulot plight to put France in the driver seat of the world green hydrogen market – and invested 100 million euro in technology to do so. Hulot resigned, but the will of France to get in that driver seat has not lessened. It’s first hydrogen-power passenger bus was unveiled in Houdain, for example. R ecommended:  Solar And Hydrogen Boats Win The Future: France, Monaco Germany: Hydrogen Applications Germany, already a big player in the green hydrogen market, has unveiled a new plan to invest in research labs for a budget of 100 million euros. Managing director at FNB Gas, Inga Posch, said: "Hydrogen is one of the hottest topics in the energy transition in the country at the moment." What are Hydrogen applications Hydrogen is used in various in industrial applications; these include metalworking (primarily in metal alloying), flat glass production (hydrogen used as an inerting or protective gas), the electronics industry (used as a protective and carrier gas, in deposition processes, for cleaning, in etching, in reduction Japan: Most Advanced Hydrogen Market With manufacturers as Honda and Toyota, Japan takes the lead in hydrogen fuel cell transportation development and has the most advanced green hydrogen market. Also, the government revealed plans to set up 10,000 refuelling stations over the next decade. Norway: Hydrogen And Hydropower After the world’s first accident in a hydrogen filling station (in which two people were injured), Norway still holds on to its pioneer position in the hydrogen market. After the accident happened, Nel Hydrogen did everything to prevent the happening from becoming an obstruction for commercialization. Japan is thinking of importing Norwegian wind and gas by sea in the form of liquid hydrogen. This could also be interesting for Europe, and at the same time offer Norway new prospects for exports. South Korea: Ambitious Hydrogen Plans In South Korea, The South Korean government planned to have 850.000 fuel cell vehicles by 2050, but an explosion in a research facility where two people were killed and six were injured, nourished concerns. U.K.: Wind market And Hydrogen For the U.K., hydrogen is a way to make the heating sector greener, as well to reduce gas imports – which is a plus for the country, nowadays. The U.K. is blessed with a vast wind market, and the government plans to invest 12 billion pounds in using four gigawatts of offshore wind for renewable hydrogen production. U.S.: California World-Leading Market For a country where National Hydrogen Day is celebrated, you would expect more of the green hydrogen development. Luckily, California has a massive interest in hydrogen:  it can help the state with its callosal decarbonization targets. Of course, with a little help from its high-profile technology developers in Silicon Valley – California is leading in the hydrogen market.  Before you go! Recommended:  Solar And Hydrogen Boats Win The Future: France, Monaco Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. 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Can geothermal power get as mainstream and accessible as solar and wind energy? According to the Swedish company Climeon, with their newest technology, it can – and for an even better price than the above. Geothermal power is a great solution to our energy problem: it’s flexible, it provides energy whenever we need it and it’s not that bad for our environment. It's green, adaptable and cheaper than wind and solar. Sounds perfect, right? Current technology, however, limits its applications. In this article, you can read how Climeon claims to overcome these problems with their technology. Geothermal Power Can Be The Solution To Our Energy Problem Geothermal heat is a sustainable alternative to natural gas. When using geothermal heat, no greenhouse gasses are released, making this an excellent renewable energy source. Geothermal energy is nothing new. Did you know that geothermal heat has been used on our planet for more than 100,000 thousand years? There are plenty of examples, such as the ancient Roman baths. In 2013, there was a utility-scale geothermal capacity of more than 11,700 MW on a global level. A record, because it was bringing forth more than 68 billion KWh. That is enough for the household electricity of more than six million households. The World Energy Council forecasts in a research paper that “geothermal energy can supply more than 8% of our earth's power supply, a factor that is likely to propel the revenue-generating potential of Geothermal Energy Market over the years to come.” {youtube}                                   How Geothermal Energy Revolutionised Iceland’s Greenhouses | Earth Lab                                          Geothermal Power Accessible As Wind And Solar Energy: Climeon Recommended:  Solar Collector Produces Bio Fuels And Saves The Planet: MIT                                                     Geothermal Power, Why Aren’t We All Using It? Geothermal power sounds more than great, but as said, with current technology we can’t use this geo energy to full power. The warmth of the earth lays in the ground. In some places, such as Iceland, the heat is just below the surface of the ground. This country can therefore use an enormous amount of geothermal heat to generate electricity. In other countries, like France or the Netherlands, geothermal energy lays much deeper, which means that the geothermal energy will cool down too much to generate electricity. Geothermal power plants are depending on very hot water. Unfortunately, only the places in this world like Iceland or Indonesia (with her volcanic activity) can use geothermal energy right now. Not very accessible, right? Recommended:  The Earth As An Inexhaustible Clean Geothermal Energy Source Smart Use Of Low-Temperature Heat So, one of the problems of geothermal energy is the needed amount of very hot water, which often only can be used in places where the geothermal heat lies just beneath the surface. The Swedish company has a solution to this problem: its technology can make use of low-temperature heat, which – according to Akshat Rathi, “opens up economically viable geothermal power to much more of the world.” Half of all the energy in the world will be wasted as so/called low temperature heat. Climeon, founded by and CEO Thomas Öström (who was recently named Swedish Person of the Year in the category Innovation), makes smart use of the low temperature heat from geothermal heat sources. The Power Unit of Climeon pumps with low pressure, so less energy is needed to convert the heat into clean electricity. The unites themselves can convert the heat of the earth into energy. The more energy a customer needs, the more unites can be placed. Customized energy from geothermal energy can therefore be supplied! Also, Climeon’s units can use heat from other sources, too. What do you think of the water used for cooling hot steel in steel mills - which is otherwise thrown away as waste water? Climeon´s technology can turn this waste into renewed energy. Recommended:  Vortex Bladeless Wind Turbine: Energy Generator Without Blades Sun And Wind Energy. Geothermal Heat Is Cheaper Another big advantage of Climeon's smart technology is the price: it can be cheaper than wind and solar energy! The precise price of the electricity generated by Climeon does differ. It depends on various factors, such as the type of project and the access to heat. In some cases, Climeon’s electricity-generating units have provided electricity for €40 ($45) per MWh, says Joachim Karthäuser, the company’s chief technology officer, to Quartz. That is cheaper or just as cheap as the lowest price for wind or solar energy, at least in continental Europe. Climeon's smart technology can be offered at such low prices, because The Climeon Heat Power units are designed to store as little energy as possible as little as possible. A unit is approximately 280 cubic ft and can store up to 150 kW. With 150 kW, more than 150 families in Europe can turn on the lights, watch television and do other activities for which they need power. Cha ching! Funding Of 12.5 Million Dollar Right now, Climeon operates in five countries. The Swedish company is worth almost four hundred million euros (or 450 million dollars) since the founding in 2011. But the company will probably expand in no time – they will be funded for 12,5 million dollars by the Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a fund backed by Bill Gates. The mothership of Climeon, Baseload Capital, will get this funding: they mainly focus on owning and operating the steel plant from which the company Climeon operates. That’s because many steel plants want the innovate technology that Climeon invented, but don’t want to own a power plant. They get the cash injection because Breakthrough Energy Ventures believes that the company is capable to cut more than five hundred million tons of greenhouse gasses - annually. That’s very impressive! Geothermal Heat And It's Opportunities With the “extensive global attempts to eliminate hazardous fuel emissions, geothermal energy market is on its way to establish itself as one of the most dynamically evolving energy markets of recent times”, according to the report Geothermal Energy Market trends research and projections for 2017 - 2024 by Global Market Insights . Climeon is now one of the biggest players in town: and for sure, one to watch. Climeon seems to have significant potential in improving the chances of success in the global race to zero emissions! Before you go!  Recommended:  Gravitricity: Fast, Versatile Energy Storage Solution: UK Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your own article about sustainability? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage'

Globally, we are generating more electricity from intermittent renewable green energy sources than ever before. We are slowly making steps to a decarbonized world, but for our renewable energy, we are still reliant on weather-dependent sources, like marine, wind, and solar. Gravitricity: Fast, Versatile Energy Storage Solution We will need new technologies to capture and store green energy during periods of low demand and with a quick release when needed. The idea of the British start-up Gravitricity almost seems too good to be true. By using enormous weights, the company wants to turn mine shafts into low-cost green energy storage systems – with 'some of the best characteristics of lithium batteries and pumped storage.' Is this the large-scale electricity storage the world needs, or is it, in fact, too good to be true? Why is energy storage important? Energy storage is of interest to the utility because they can store energy that is produced by their plants and not used (such as wind energy at night) and release the stored energy during the day when the demand is higher (and also the cost The gravitricity concept seems to be so simple. Gravitricity describes their innovative technology as a huge 'clock weight.' A cylindrical weight of 500 - 5000 tonnes is suspended in a deep (preferably already existing) shaft by a number of cables each of which is engaged with a winch capable of lifting its share of the weight. Electrical power is then absorbed or generated by raising or lowering the weight. The weight is guided by a system of tensioned guide wires (patents applied for) to prevent it from swinging and damaging the shaft. The winch system can be accurately controlled through the electrical drives to keep the weight stable in the hole.  Gravitricity: Fast, Versatile Energy Storage Solution Like A Dream What do you mean by energy? Energy is the capacity of a physical system to do work. Potential energy, sometimes symbolized U, is energy stored in a system. A stationary object in a gravitational field, or a stationary charged particle in an electric field, has potential energy. The target groups are network-constrained users and operators, distribution networks, and major power users. The technology operates in the 1MW to 20 MW power range. With a design life of fifty years, response time from zero to full power in less than one second and efficiency between 80 and 90 percent, Gravitricity versatile fast energy storage seems like a dream. It is a way to utilize existing mines or purpose-built shafts. ‘Future deployments will be able to utilize existing mines or purpose-built shafts, allowing development wherever storage is required,’ according to Gravitricity. And there is more: the start-up claims levelized costs well below lithium batteries. Recommended:  Environmental Costs Of Lithium Battery Addiction: Worldwide Gravitricity  Fanbase For all the above reasons, Gravitricity already has its fanbase. The company received an Innovate UK (the government’s innovation agency) funding of 650.000 pounds to start on its prototype. Also, Gravitricity is teaming up with the well-respected Dutch winch and offshore manufacturer Huisman Equipment BV. ‘The first full-scale prototype will be deployed in 2021 or 2022 at a disused mine in the UK,’ the start-up reveals. {youtube}                                                      Gravitricity: Fast, Versatile Energy Storage Solution: UK                                                               Gravitricity - fast, long-life energy storage Gravitricity:  Energy Storage  According to the Bloomberg New Energy Finance's Global Energy Outlook – the annual economic forecast for the world's power mix to 2050 – there will be '$600 billion of global spend on 'green' energy storage to 2040. ' Gravitricity 's energy storage goal is to 'provide balancing services on transmission grids as well as appealing to network-constrained users and generators, distribution networks and major power users seeking a reliable, fast response, and long-term means of storing power,' as they write on their website. Can energy be destroyed? The first law of thermodynamics, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; energy can only be transferred or changed from one form to another. ... In other words, energy cannot be created or destroyed. What do you think: will Gravitricity versatile fast energy storage enable existing grid infrastructure to go further in a renewable energy world by providing this essential energy storage? Before you go! Recommended:  Hydrogen Energy Storage Revolution In The Netherlands Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your own article about sustainability? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage'

A group of scientists at the Texan Rice University developed an electrocatalysis reactor that will turn CO2 into pure liquid fuel solutions. Because of this catalytic reactor, a common greenhouse gas can be repurposed in an efficient and environmentally way - using renewable electricity. Will this technology eliminate greenhouse gases as a significant contributor to climate change? The catalytic reactor developed by the Rice University lab of chemical and biomolecular engineer Haotian Wang uses carbon dioxide as its feedstock and - in its latest prototype - produces highly purified and high concentrations of formic acid, as was published in the monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature Energy. Grab And Recycle Formic acid is an energy carrier that is found in natural sources, like ant stings, but it is also fundamental in the chemical engineering industry. The fuel-cell fuel can hold ‘nearly 1,000 times the energy of the same volume of hydrogen gas, which is difficult to compress,’ according to the publishing in Nature Energy. This way, electrical energy can be stored in formic acid as a liquid fuel. It can generate electricity and emit carbon dioxide which you can grab and recycle again. Recommended:  Hydrogen Is The Fuel Of The Future: Questions & Answers On A Kilogram Scale With the development of the robust, two-dimensional bismuth catalyst (the heavy atom bismuth is similar to metals like copper) stabilizes the catalyst. Another enhancement is the “polymer-based solid electrolyte is coated with sulfonic acid ligands to conduct positive charge or amino functional groups to conduct negative ions”, as lead author and Rice postdoctoral researcher Chuan Xia said about the reactor to Science Daily. Also, with the new technology, nanomaterials can be produced on a kilogram scale instead of milligram or gram scales. Profitable Energy Source Greenhouse gases are a danger for a healthy environment, as they are a huge contributor to climate change. With this invention, greenhouse gases can be used as a valuable energy source. Will this be the way to keep greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere and to turn carbon dioxide into something meaningful? Before you go! Recommended:  Climate Change Efforts On Reducing CO2 Why Not Recycle It? Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your own article about sustainability? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage'

With global warming and carbon emissions dominating headlines, countries are turning to hydrogen-powered technology as a secure, clean, and affordable alternative to fossil fuels.  Tracing its origins back to ancient Olympia, the Olympic torch - an eternal symbol of the hallowed sporting event - is set to shine brightly in Japan’s capital next year.  But when the flame is lit at Tokyo’s New National Stadium, it will be hydrogen fuel cells, not fossil fuels, which will sustain its fire. Hydrogen Fuel And The Tokyo Olympic Games The 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games will be powered by hydrogen technology, from the use of hydrogen cells for the electricity supply in the Athletes’ Village to the building of over 160 hydrogen stations for fuel cell vehicles. As an early pioneer in embracing and developing hydrogen-powered technology, Japan is on a quest to reduce emissions to less than a tenth of current levels by the year 2050. The benefits of the technology have not gone unnoticed by the international energy community, including Japan, where hydrogen took centre stage at the 2019 G20 Summit. From rendering freight transportation carbon-free to the convenient use of portable hydrogen “capsules”, here are five reasons why hydrogen is a secure, clean and affordable alternative. What are the 5 new sports for 2020 Olympics? Five new sports have been added to the Tokyo Games coming up in 2020. They are baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing (G20) hold in Osaka where 'Green Hydrogen' was featured prominently Hydrogen Is The Fuel Of The Future: Zero Emission On The Roads  Heavily dependent on fossil fuels for energy, the transportation sector contributes to a staggering 20 percent of carbon dioxide emissions globally. Hydrogen-powered vehicles could be the answer to this problem, as fuel cell vehicles, which use hydrogen gas to power an electric motor, emit only heat and water as by-products. In China, hydrogen-powered transportation is gaining traction, with over 1,500 fuel cell vehicles currently plying the streets. Wan Gang, China’s Science and Technology Minister and the visionary leader of its electric vehicle economy, has predicted that hydrogen-powered vehicles will be the future of transportation not just in China, but also the world. Hydrogen-powered technology can also play a significant role in decarbonizing long-haul road freight, given that heavy vehicle lorries produce almost 2.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually. How does the hydrogen car work? A Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) is a vehicle powered by an electric motor. Hydrogen is fed into the anode and the cathode is exposed to air (oxygen source). The anode causes the release of electrons from the hydrogen which travel towards the positive cathode to create an electric current Global logistics giant DHL and electric vehicle start-up Street Scooter have teamed up to launch the H2 Panel Van, the world’s first 4.25-ton electric vehicle with an added fuel cell that allows it to travel up to 500 kilometres. As part of its mission to 'green' the logistics industry, DHL plans to have 100 of such fuel cell delivery vehicles on the roads between 2020 and 2021 Recommended:  Hydrogen Powered Car That Emits Water No CO2: The Rasa Hydrogen Gives A Longer Driving Range With a relatively short refuelling time, vehicles with hydrogen fuel cells can also travel for longer on lesser energy. In China, hydrogen-powered buses can drive beyond 500 kilometres on a full tank of hydrogen – a considerable jump from the 200 kilometres that electric buses typically achieve. Hydrogen-powered cars in Europe are traveling even farther, up to 800 kilometres or more, on a single tank. Another example is Toyota’s leading hydrogen-powered car, the Toyota Mirai, which can complete a 3,500-kilometer journey from Northern to Southern Europe and back on just 40 kilograms of hydrogen. {youtube}                                                 Hydrogen Is The Fuel Of The Future: Questions & Answers                                                     Toyota Mirai Hydrogen fuel cell car goes for a drive While the costs of producing hydrogen have been cited as a barrier to widespread adoption, companies like Electric Global are coming up with innovative ways to tackle the challenge. The Israeli-Australian firm’s new hydrogen-based technology allows drivers to travel up to twice the usual distance while paying less than half the price of gasoline. The best part? The technology is entirely emission-free. Hydrogen Fuel Is Decarbonizing The Industrial Sectors Owing to the large amounts of fossil fuels used, the steel-making and chemicals production industries have long been regarded as emissions-heavy sectors. But hydrogen-powered technology is slowly changing things. The petrochemical and chemicals sector, which produced up to 1.25 gross tonnage of carbon emissions in 2017, is turning to electrolytic hydrogen as a substitute for fossil fuels. Hydrogen is seen as an alternative energy source for emissions-heavy industries. Is hydrogen more powerful than gasoline? In fact, a fuel cell coupled with an electric motor is two to three times more efficient than an internal combustion engine running on gasoline. Learn more about fuel cells. The energy in 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of hydrogen gas is about the same as the energy in 1 gallon (6.2 pounds, 2.8 kilograms) of gasoline. Within the steelmaking industry, the development of breakthrough technologies has led to a large number of promising projects, including a steelmaking factory in Hamburg, which uses an innovative hydrogen-based process to produce steel with low carbon emissions. In Sweden, steel production firm Hybrid is developing the world’s first fossil-free hydrogen-powered steel plant that aims to use biofuels to produce iron ore pellets. As more industries embrace hydrogen energy, the cost of producing it from renewable energy could become more affordable by 2030, said the International Energy Agency in a recent report. Hydrogens Fuel Is Easy To Store And Easy To Use One key benefit of hydrogen is the ease at which it can be stored, shipped, and used. This means that countries with little space for wind and solar equipment will still be able to benefit from carbon-free energy. Solar power plants usually require a large land area. Energy companies are constantly finding effective ways to store and harness the potential of hydrogen. In Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, technological giant Siemens has launched the world’s first energy storage demonstrator, which can store and transport carbon fuel safely and effectively. Hydrogen fuel is so versatile that in 2016, a Japanese research team designed and created hydrogen “capsules” that allow consumers to store hydrogen batteries in their pockets and use them for day-to-day activities. Can hydrogen be stored safely? Hydrogen can be stored in three ways: As a compressed gas in high-pressure tanks. As a liquid in dewars or tanks (stored at -253°C). As a solid by either absorbing or reacting with metals or chemical compounds or storing in an alternative chemical form. Hydrogen Is The Fuel Of The Future: Space Travel Uses Successfully Hydrogen Fuel Contrary to popular belief, the use of hydrogen energy is not new. Hydrogen was used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a rocket propellant and fuel cell unit to operate auxiliary power units in space since the early 1960s. That same decade, internationally acclaimed American industrial designer Brooks Stevens launched the Utopia Concept, a series of hydrogen fuel cell propulsion cars that revolutionized the motor industry. But the most memorable use of hydrogen has to be the Apollo moon landing missions in 1967 when NASA used 363 feet tall valves fuelled by liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, and kerosene to power its rockets. Named the 'Saturn V' rockets, they were, and still are, considered to be the most powerful rockets ever built. Hydrogen Is The Fuel Of The Future: Questions & Answers Fuel cells, are they the future? In the future, fuel cells could power our cars, with hydrogen replacing the petroleum fuel that is used in most vehicles today. Many vehicle manufacturers are actively researching and developing transportation fuel cell technologies. Stationary fuel cells are the largest, most powerful fuel cells. Are hydrogen cars better than electric? Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles tend to be more frugal than their battery electric counterparts. According to Autocar, the Hyundai Nexo comes with a real-world range of 414 miles and filling up takes just five minutes, whereas electric charging can be an hour-long affair at the best of times Which is better hydrogen or electric cars? Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles tend to be more frugal than their battery electric counterparts. According to Autocar, the Hyundai Nexo comes with a real-world range of 414 miles and filling up takes just five minutes, whereas electric charging can be an hour-long affair at the best of times. Hydrogen cars, are they quiet? A Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) is a vehicle powered by an electric motor. ... Fuel cell vehicles provide the same benefits as BEV cars, quiet operation and zero emissions, but have a range comparable to gasoline vehicles and can be refueled in less than 5 minutes. Hydrogen, why is it a fuel? Hydrogen is high in energy, yet an engine that burns pure hydrogen produces almost no pollution. ... A fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat, and water. Fuel cells are often compared to batteries. Both convert the energy produced by a chemical reaction into usable electric power. Hydrogen fuel cells, how long do they last? 5,000 to 10,000 hours. H2 fuel cells currently in production have a life expectancy of from 5,000 to 10,000 hours. If we apply that to an average driving speed of 45 mph (a combination of in-town on highway driving), we should expect to get 225,000 to 450,000 miles. Hydrogen Production Although abundant on earth as an element, hydrogen is almost always found as part of another compound, such as water (H 2 O), and must be separated from the compounds that contain it before it can be used in vehicles. Once separated, hydrogen can be used along with oxygen from the air in a fuel cell to create electricity through an electrochemical process. Production Hydrogen can be produced from diverse, domestic resources including fossil fuels, biomass, and water electrolysis with electricity. The environmental impact and energy efficiency of hydrogen depends on how it is produced. Some projects are under way to decrease costs associated with hydrogen production. There are a number of ways to produce hydrogen: Natural Gas Reforming/Gasification: Synthesis gas, a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and a small amount of carbon dioxide, is created by reacting natural gas with high-temperature steam. The carbon monoxide is reacted with water to produce additional hydrogen. This method is the cheapest, most efficient, and most common. A synthesis gas can also be created by reacting coal or biomass with high-temperature steam and oxygen in a pressurized gasifier, which is converted into gaseous components—a process called gasification. The resulting synthesis gas contains hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which is reacted with steam to separate the hydrogen. Hydrogen from oil Recommended: Renewable Energy Breakthrough: Hydrogen Extract From Oil Electrolysis:  An electric current splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. If the electricity is produced by renewable sources, such as solar or wind, the resulting hydrogen will be considered renewable as well, and has numerous emissions benefits. Power-to-hydrogen projects are taking off, where excess renewable electricity, when it's available, is used to make hydrogen through electrolysis. Renewable Liquid Reforming:  Renewable liquid fuels, such as ethanol, are reacted with high-temperature steam to produce hydrogen near the point of end use. Fermentation:  Biomass is converted into sugar-rich feedstocks that can be fermented to produce hydrogen. A number of hydrogen production methods are in development: High-Temperature Water Splitting: High temperatures generated by solar concentrators or nuclear reactors drive chemical reactions that split water to produce hydrogen Photobiological Water Splitting: Microbes, such as green algae, consume water in the presence of sunlight, producing hydrogen as a by-product Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: Photoelectrochemical systems produce hydrogen from water using special semiconductors and energy from sunlight Before you go! Recommended:  Breaking News! Hydrogen Cheaply Produced By Solar In Belgium Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. 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