From Ecopedia

Overview

Discovered by Henry Cavendish in 1766, hydrogen is the most lightest and abundant chemical element occurring in the universe. ^[1] Hydrogen readily combines with other molecules to form complex compounds such as water (H20) and methane (CH4).^[2]

In the atmosphere, Hydrogen gas is present in small amounts, making up less than a part per million. Hydrogen is an extremely light element constituting approximately 75% of the elemental mass of the Universe.^[3]

Environmental Information

Environmental effects

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Hydrogen is found to cause no adverse effect on plant or animal life, except for the production of frost in the presence of fast expanding gases.

However, hydrogen production from fossil fuel resources lead to the release of harmful emissions of greenhouse gases that cause global warming.^[4] On-board methanol reforming into hydrogen also leads to GHG emissions.

Hydrogen production from renewable energy resources, especially in the case of biomass, would lead to near-zero net emissions. Moreover, the same land that is used in hydrogen production using biomass can be utilized to create the eco-efficient biodiesel.

The hydrogen fuel cell car is found to cause minimum impact on the environment. However, hydrogen cars are considered to be most expensive mode of GHG reduction. ^[5]

Hydrogen produced from renewable energies could be efficiently utilized in recharging the eco-friendly all-electric or plug-in hybrids.

Hydrogen fuel cells are considered to be the cleanest available combustion fuels, as per the current environmental standards. Hydrogen is removed from water and later put into the fuel cells as a gas, which can be used for powering vehicles. The only emission produced from a fuel cell-powered car is water vapor, which shows no environmental danger.

Hydrogen as an alternate fuel thus produces a positive impact on the environment with most promise than other available alternate fuels.

Fuel Source

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Hydrogen is not naturally available on earth and so is not a source of energy. Hydrogen only serves as an energy carrier.

Hydrogen can be produced from traditional energy sources such as fossil fuels and methane. Currently, a wide range of alternate energy sources are utilized for hydrogen production, some of which include solar energy, nuclear energy and wind energy.^[6]

In recent times, integrated wind-to-hydrogen plants, utilizing water electrolysis, are discovering innovative technologies for delivering low costing and highly productive technologies to compete with the traditionally available energy sources.^[7]

Commercial production of hydrogen in large quantities involves steam reforming of natural gas.

Hydrogen for Vehicle Use

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Hydrogen produced for vehicular purposes involves either non-renewable or renewable energy sources.^[8]

As per the observations of the United States Department of Energy, hydrogen production using natural gas results in the release of certain greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere.

However, compared to the ICE vehicles running on gasoline, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles produced from natural gas minimize emissions by 60%. Besides reducing green gas emissions, hydrogen vehicles also lead to decreased emissions of ozone precursors.^[9]

Challenges ahead of hydrogen vehicles include

• Production
• Storage
• Transport
• Distribution

By efficiently tackling the above issues, hydrogen’s well-to-wheel efficiency would exceed the current levels of 25%.

References

1. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen
2. ↑ http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/1.html
3. ↑ http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/1.html
4. ↑ http://www.enviroliteracy.org/subcategory.php/203.html
5. ↑ http://www.enviroliteracy.org/subcategory.php/203.html
6. ↑ http://ezinearticles.com/?Hydrogen-Fuel-Cells-and-the-Environment&id=1507729
7. ↑ http://ezinearticles.com/?Hydrogen-Fuel-Cells-and-the-Environment&id=1507729
8. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_vehicle
9. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_vehicle