News and Analysis

Hydrogen powered vehicles are the next big thing when it comes to alternative fuels. Vehicles that drive on hydrogen are out on the roads from laboratories. The stored hydrogen is converted into electricity for the motor through the fuel cells. Only a few of these vehicles use the hydrogen directly. Alternative ways of producing hydrogen are being researched continuously. Presently, the US has about 200 such vehicles, most of them being buses and cars.

Producing Hydrogen

Two methods are popular for producing hydrogen. One of the most efficient methods to produce hydrogen is steam reforming and about 95 percent hydrogen in the US is produces by this method (CH₄). Steam reforming separates the hydrogen atoms from the carbon atoms in methane. However, the process results into significant emissions of greenhouse gases that are responsible for global warming   On the other hand, Electrolysis, a method that separates hydrogen from water, is a very expensive process and can not be resorted to currently. New technologies are being developed all the time. With the availability of resources around the world for producing hydrogen, it appears to be an attractive option.

Few Concerns

Using hydrogen as a fuel proves be an expensive affair these days simply because of lack of any major breakthrough in terms of production technology. Until recently it also suffered from the so called ‘chicken and egg’ problem- some people thought that there are very few hydrogen stations and therefore avoided buying hydrogen powered vehicles and a few thought that since there are so few hydrogen powered vehicles, it wont be worth investing in a hydrogen station. The safety parameter was also an issue some time back but not anymore. The gas tanks would have very accurate electronic pressure meters monitoring the tank and now there is no scope of the vehicle blasting off like a bomb!

‘Odorless’ Future

The future won’t just be a witness to hydrogen driven cars but it would be employed to solve one of most persistent problems in the modern world- that of  energy security. Electrolytic stations or generators are already being manufactured and put to real life use.

A domestic generator costs $25,000 (a very big sum indeed!) but decreases the dependency on power grid and gas bills for life. Some generators also come with solar panels that aid electrolyzing process. The hydrogen thus produced can even be used to fuel the cars in the garage.

Hydrogen being a zero emission fuel comes as an additional alternative along with solar and wind power. The infrastructure problems associated with the fuel are expected to get resolved sooner than later- ultimately replacing gasoline with this everlasting alternative.

- The Global Energy Talent Editorial Team