Fuel in Producing of Power Energy - Case Study Example

Hydrogen flows into the anode while oxygen flows into the cathode. The catalyst splits the oxygen into two negative atoms: the two opposite elements (hydrogen and oxygen) attract and pair and the end products of this chemical reaction are water, heat, and electricity (Caitlyn 43)

A critical analysis of the hydrogen economy

 Critics of the hydrogen economy argue that it is wasteful because of the following reasons;

• Extracting hydrogen from natural compounds uses more energy than it yields hence it does not make any sense, ( Bossel)
• According to Gar Lipow, the cost of setting up a full hydrogen industry to replace the existing infrastructure will be very costly,
• Hydrogen fuel cells are expensive, their technology is advanced and they contribute to global warming. (Sadoway)
• Lack of sufficient platinum for large scale use in fuel cells
• There is no clear method that has been discovered of storing hydrogen in cars.

Proponents

            Amory Lovins opines that many of the objections against the use of hydrogen are either myths or can be overcome. He believes that hydrogen has a place in the modern world because those objections are based on ill-formed commentaries (Sadoway 56). Its advantages include;

• Its abundance makes it readily available
• It is environmentally friendly because its by-products like water are not harmful
• Unlike other non-renewable sources of energy, it’s easily renewable.

            The proponents’ views are the most persuasive because there is a lot yet to be discovered about this fuel. After all, it is relatively new. It is a clean energy initiative because the fact that it doesn’t produce harmful emissions makes it environmentally friendly. These benefits of a hydrogen economy will help us move towards a more sustainable energy economy (Amory 56).

Conclusion

  In modern society, there is a place for hydrogen. The fact that this fuel is nontoxic makes it a rare source of energy because other hazardous sources can’t compete against it. Both its by-products are environmentally friendly. Its energy is powerful enough to be very efficient compared to other sources and water is used in spaceships. Lastly, it is not the super clean and affordable fuel we expect it to be, but with time it will change because it is relatively new at the moment.