Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells - Essay Example

HYDROGEN ENERGY AND FUEL CELLS Hydrogen is the simplest and most plentiful element on earth which does not exist by itself but combineswith other elements to form substances from which it can be separated by electrolysis or reforming. Fuel cells unite oxygen and hydrogen to produce stationary or mobile electricity. There are 7 types of fuel cells. Unlike the more problematic fossil fuels presently being used, advantages of using hydrogen and fuel cells include ensuring energy safety and regular supply, economic competitiveness, improvement in air quality and reduction of greenhouse gases. Although there are 6 challenges facing fuel cells, nations led by the U.S and Japan have taken the lead in developing hydrogen and fuel cells as their premier energy choice of the future. Introduction Global demand for energy is increasing at a frightening pace. World Energy Technology & Climate Policy Outlook {WETO} estimates that it will grow at an annual rate of 1.8% for the next two decades. The demand is presently being satisfied mainly by fossil fuels that are not only expensive and release greenhouse gases and other pollutants into the atmosphere, but are also fast depleting (European Commission, 2003, page 9, para.1). In contrast, the hydrogen energy and fuel cell system ensures energy safety and regular supply, it is economically competitive and it does not pollute the air, but in fact reduces greenhouse gases; the recognition of these benefits is apparent as countries like the U.S and Japan, are laying the platform to ensure that it features heavily in the coming future. The Concept of Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells Hydrogen {chemical sign H} is not a basic energy source {such as crude oil and gas}, but an energy carrier (European Commission, 2003, page 10, para.3). It is the most in-elaborate and most plentiful element on earth. A hydrogen atom has a single proton and a single electron. Hydrogen does not exist by itself in a natural gaseous form, but readily combines with other elements {for example, it combines with oxygen to form water [H2O]} to form substances. Hydrogen is also contained in several organic compounds, especially hydrocarbons that are part of fuels like gasoline and methanol. Hydrogen can be separated from water by a procedure called electrolysis which uses electric current to split water into oxygen and hydrogen. Hydrogen can be split from hydrocarbons by a procedure called reforming that uses heat to carry out the separation (Renewable Energy World.com, 2009, para.1&2). A fuel cell (FIG.1) unites oxygen and hydrogen to produce electricity by an electrochemical process. A fuel cell comprises 1 electrolyte and 2 catalyst-covered electrodes (DOE, 2008, Fuel Cells [Basics]). A fuel cell {like a battery} changes the energy produced by chemical reaction into electricity that can be suitably used. However, unlike a battery, a fuel cell will go on producing electricity and will never lose its charge as long as the provision of fuel {hydrogen} exists. The hydrogen needed for fuel cells is usually obtained by reforming fuels such as propane and gasoline (Renewable Energy World.com, 2009, para.4&5). There are 7 types of fuel cells. They variously employ polymer electrolyte membranes {PEM}, direct methanol, alkaline fuel, phosphoric acid, molten carbonate, solid oxide and regenerative fuel (DOE, 2008, Fuel Cells [Types]). Fuel cells can be used to produce stationary as well as mobile power. In case of the former, the fuel cells are manufactured out of various materials and function at temperatures ranging from 60 to 1,000 degrees Celsius; they can be utilized in de-concentrated systems to provide electricity and heat for a variety of uses that include households (European Commission, 2003, page 29, para.5). In case of the latter, fuel cells capable of supplying electricity longer than portable batteries can be used to power mobile electrical and electronic devices such as mobile phones, power tools and laptop computers (European Commission, 2003, page 30, para.4). Advantages of Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells Energy Safety and Regular Supply The world today is heavily dependent on regular supply of fossil fuels from a few nations - this endangers geopolitical and price stability. On the other hand, dependence on hydrogen and fuel cells involves easy and trouble-free access to a large variety of fossil fuels, nuclear energy and renewable energy sources {like wind and solar energy} as and when they become largely obtainable. If it is introduced as a carrier along with electricity, hydrogen will not only provide better availability and price stability than any other energy source, but will also permit adaptability in balancing concentration and de-concentration of power founded on managed, intelligent networks and power for isolated areas such as islands and mountainous regions. De-concentrated power is not only suitable as far as guaranteeing power quality to match precise consumer requirements is concerned, but it also lowers the risk of terrorist attacks (European Commission, 2003, page 12, para.2&3). Economic Competitiveness Ever since the oil crisis of the 1970s, no immediate connection has been found between economic development and increase in energy demand in industries, while in contrast, more mobility in the transportation sector still causes a proportionate rise in energy usage. The quantity of energy required per unit growth must be lessened while the creation of energy carriers and technologies like hydrogen and fuel cells to guarantee low-price energy assumes vital significance. Production and sale of energy systems are also important parts of wealth formation, from vehicles to power plants, making available significant high-quality employment and export chances particularly to industrialized countries. This potential has been astutely recognized by leading countries of the world like the U.S and Japan, which look upon hydrogen and fuel cells as the central technologies for the 21st century that are crucially important to ensure economic success. As a consequence, there is heavy investment and industrial activity in the hydrogen and fuel cell sector in these nations as they strongly promote the changeover to hydrogen (European Commission, 2003, page 13, para.2&3). Improvement in Air Quality and Reduction in Greenhouse Gases Automobiles and power generations {both stationary and portable} that utilize hydrogen are characterized by zero emissions. Moreover, hydrogen can be produced from carbonless energy sources or from fossil fuels with carbon-dioxide seizure and holding {sequestration}. Thus, the utilization of hydrogen could ultimately get rid of greenhouse gas releases from the energy sector. Fuel cells supply effective and clean energy produced from various fuels; they can also be located near to the end-user, thereby also permitting usage of the byproduct {heat} (European Commission, 2003, page 13, para.4&5). Reliable studies have shown that greenhouse gas reduction of up to 140 MtCO2 annually can be reached if just 17% of the entire electrical demand {presently being provided by concentrated power plants} is substituted for more effective de-concentrated power plants using stationary fuel cells. Similarly, nearly 250 MtCO2 can be reduced annually by employing hydrogen energy fuel cells in vehicles (European Commission, 2003, page 14, para.2&3). Challenges facing Fuel Cells Firstly, with the exception of usages like back-up power supply to large financial organizations, the cost of using fuel cells commercially is too high. Secondly, while some fuel cell systems have been successfully demonstrated for thousands of hours, the life-time of a large number of cells have yet to be similarly demonstrated. Thirdly, the dependability of fuel cells as well as associated apparatus like fuel processors is yet to be proven. Fourthly, as it is not an existing or regular item but a novelty that involves new technology, it will necessitate a lot of support and favorable public perception in order to be competitive in conservative markets. Fifthly, new technological inventions are required to bring about simultaneous improvement in fuel cell function, dependability and cost. Lastly, the required infrastructure involving refueling, extensive production processes and support are not yet in place for fuel cell systems (European Commission, 2003, page 31, para.2). Conclusion The U.S, followed by Japan, has taken the lead in developing hydrogen and fuel cells as its premier energy choice of the future. Its National Aeronautics & Space Administration {NASA} has already been using liquid hydrogen since the 1970s to fuel its rockets and space shuttles (Renewable Energy World.com, 2009, para.3). A group of private U.S fuel cell businessmen recently requested the federal government to provide $ 5.5 billion of public funds to finance a 10-year scheme to put into action and use hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. The government reacted favorably by allocating $ 1.7 billion {which contains $ 720 million of new funding} over a period of 5 years - starting from 2003 - for the development of hydrogen fuel cells, basic hydrogen organizational structure and latest automotive technologies. The U.S Department of Energy estimates that this move will spawn 750,000 new jobs by the year 2030 (European Commission, 2003, page 15, para.1). Other countries of the world should emulate the example of the U.S and Japan by making genuine efforts to develop hydrogen and fuel cells as their chosen energy of the future. References: Hydrogen & Fuel Cells. (2008). Retrieved December 4, 2009, from U.S Department of Energy [DOE] Web Site: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/ Hydrogen Energy. (2009). Retrieved December 4, 2009, from Renewable Energy World.com Web Site: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/hydrogen Hydrogen Energy & Fuel Cells – A Vision of Our Future. (2003). Retrieved December 4, 2009, from European Commission Web Site: ec.europa.eu/research/energy/pdf/hlg_vision_report_en.pdf FIGURES FIG.1 Fuel Cell (DOE, 2008, Fuel Cells [Basics]) Read More