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Technologies > Hydrogen Hydrogen is potentially an emissions-free fuel, as well as an abundant chemical element present in hydrocarbons and water. Since pure hydrogen gas is very rare in the Earth’s atmosphere, hydrogen must be produced by separating it from other compounds. There are several ways to produce hydrogen, but in the United States hydrogen is mostly produced using natural gas reforming. Hydrogen can be produced from diverse domestic resources, with the potential for “renewable” near-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Once produced, it generates power without exhaust emissions in fuel cells. It holds promise for economic growth in both the stationary and transportation energy sectors. There are currently several hundred fuel cell vehicles in the US and across the world. They store hydrogen on the vehicle and convert the hydrogen into electricity for the motor using a fuel cell. Unfortunately, currently the cost of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is far more expensive than conventional vehicles, partly because of the high initial cost of producing the fuel cell itself. But, while fuel cell vehicles are not yet commercially viable, they do still offer a promising long term solution.
New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition // www.njcleancities.org // 2009

Technologies > Hydrogen

Hydrogen is potentially an emissions-free fuel, as well as an abundant chemical element present in hydrocarbons and water. Since pure hydrogen gas is very rare in the Earth’s atmosphere, hydrogen must be produced by separating it from other compounds. There are several ways to produce hydrogen, but in the United States hydrogen is mostly produced using natural gas reforming. Hydrogen can be produced from diverse domestic resources, with the potential for “renewable” near-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Once produced, it generates power without exhaust emissions in fuel cells. It holds promise for economic growth in both the stationary and transportation energy sectors.

There are currently several hundred fuel cell vehicles in the US and across the world. They store hydrogen on the vehicle and convert the hydrogen into electricity for the motor using a fuel cell. Unfortunately, currently the cost of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is far more expensive than conventional vehicles, partly because of the high initial cost of producing the fuel cell itself. But, while fuel cell vehicles are not yet commercially viable, they do still offer a promising long term solution.