Advertisement
Why Hydrogen?
Our civilization consumes carbon-based fossil fuels 100,000 times faster than they are being made
Our civilization consumes carbon-based fossil fuels 100,000 times faster than they are being made
available, raising many questions about global supplies and whether they are able to meet the
available, raising many questions about global supplies and whether they are able to meet the
world's fast-growing global energy demand. With geopolitical uncertainties in oil producing countries
world's fast-growing global energy demand. With geopolitical uncertainties in oil producing countries
and insufficient oil refining capacity, our global economy is already under significant pressure. Oil is
and insufficient oil refining capacity, our global economy is already under significant pressure. Oil is
critical to the well-being of entire nations, therefore new technologies that can reduce the
critical to the well-being of entire nations, therefore new technologies that can reduce the
dependence on imported oil are becoming strategic. National security concerns are now
dependence on imported oil are becoming strategic. National security concerns are now
encouraging scientists from all over the world to develop new energy technology solutions such as
encouraging scientists from all over the world to develop new energy technology solutions such as
hydrogen fuel cells.
hydrogen fuel cells.
An even greater issue has to do with the consumption of oil itself. Fossil fuels contain carbon, and
An even greater issue has to do with the consumption of oil itself. Fossil fuels contain carbon, and
burning gasoline in our cars creates toxic air pollution in our cities and contributes to massive
burning gasoline in our cars creates toxic air pollution in our cities and contributes to massive
amounts of carbon dioxide being released into our atmosphere. Carbon dioxide accumulation is the
amounts of carbon dioxide being released into our atmosphere. Carbon dioxide accumulation is the
cause of greenhouse effects and global warming. For more than 100 years, humans have burned
cause of greenhouse effects and global warming. For more than 100 years, humans have burned
tremendous amounts of carbon-based fuels, causing our atmosphere to heat up. Global warming can
tremendous amounts of carbon-based fuels, causing our atmosphere to heat up. Global warming can
now be witnessed by increasingly violent storms, desertification, shrinking mountain glaciers, melting
now be witnessed by increasingly violent storms, desertification, shrinking mountain glaciers, melting
polar ice caps, changing ocean currents and rising sea water levels. We are just starting to notice the
polar ice caps, changing ocean currents and rising sea water levels. We are just starting to notice the
effects.
effects.
Our society needs a new and renewable fuel and hydrogen is the best solution for the long term.
Our society needs a new and renewable fuel and hydrogen is the best solution for the long term.
Indeed, hydrogen is the most abundant element in our universe and carries the most energy per unit
of weight. This carbon-free fuel can be produced either using traditional or renewable power sources
such as solar or wind power. Once captured, hydrogen can be converted back to usable energy in
numerous applications, including cars. This means our every day fuel can be produced locally, and in
unlimited quantities. When it is consumed in the fuel cell, the result is electricity and water. This water
can then be used to produce hydrogen and oxygen, making the cycle is continuous and natural, with
no toxic emissions. There are many challenges to making this a reality, but it's only a matter of time...
...and human ingenuity!
Around the world, several "Hydrogen Highway" projects are being developed and over 200 hydrogen
refueling stations have already been built to service the first fuel cell cars.
Advertisement
