A few thoughts on Hydrogen

Hydrogen fuel is probably one of the best relatively untapped natural resources available to modern man and remains largely ignored in favor of fossil fuels.  Additionally, certain disadvantages apparent when compared to fossil fuels have slowed the implementation of this mostly safe and clean burning fuel.

Hydrogen fuel use in the internal combustion engine produces less horsepower, as well as a decreased driving range.  For many car owners, this is not an acceptable trade-off.  The gas also has less energy density, requiring larger storage containers and facilities. (1)

As a highly volatile gas, larger storage facilities increase the risk of disaster, and present numerous logistical problems with transport to distribution centers.  Though it is the most common element in the universe, it is difficult to generate, store, handle, and distribute. (2)

Benefits of the use hydrogen outweigh all of the disadvantages though.  The waste product is nothing more dangerous than water; as well, no carbon, means no carbon dioxide.  Overall mechanical inefficiencies are reduced or eliminated, because there is no transfer of power, as with a combustion engine.  Run-time is limited by the amount of fuel available, creating scalability to nearly any application. (3) Probably the biggest benefit is energy security for the future, since it is the most common element in the universe.

Hydrogen could enable independence from massive utility infrastructures, and a greater self-reliance.  The cost and environmental savings, from more the more localized attributes of hydrogen fuel generation and distribution, pays for itself in reduced maintenance and new construction costs of traditional fossil fuel facilities. (3) Hydrogen is indeed, the best alternative.

1. Hydrogen Fuel Source.  Alternative Fuels.  [article online] 2004.  Available from http://www.altfuels.org/backgrnd/altftype/hydrogen.html .  Accessed 2009 Dec 6.
2. Snyder, Andrew.  Hydrogen Internal Combusion. Columbia University.  [article online]  2003.  Available from http://www.columbia.edu/~ajs120/hydrogen/web-pages/h-fuel-cell-how.html .  Accessed 2009 Dec 6.
3. Advantages & Benefits of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies.  Fuel Cell Markets.  [article online] 2009.  Available from http://www.fuelcellmarkets.com/fuel_cell_markets/5,1,1,663.html .  Accessed 2009 Dec 6.