Hydrogen as Future Energy Carrier

Corbo et al., Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Road Vehicles. 

Green Energy and Technology, DOI 10.1007/978-0-85729-136-3 Springer-Verlag London Limited 2011 

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The discussion about the sense and nonsense of hydrogen as an energy carrier has been controversial in the past and this is likely to continue in the foreseeable future, as will be the case for any of the alternative fuels. A lot of this controversial dispute can be explained by the fact that the parameters and assumptions for the evaluation are often not laid down clearly. The evaluation of hydrogen worldwide is positive if ... 

Canadian interests span into hydrogen production, delivery and utilization, primarily in fuel cell applications in transportation, stationary and portable systems. Furthermore, codes and standards for hydrogen systems are an important area of activity. The range of future electrical requirements for early adopters, such as the military, is very wide with numerous applications for various electrically powered systems. The introduction of hydrogen as an energy carrier into the commercial and military sector offer similar and sometimes unique challenges in all the areas discussed. 

The use of solar energy in applied photochemistry, and the future of hydrogen as an energy carrier, have also been described. 

A key finding from our interviews, that is confirmed across other expert accounts (reviewed by Ricci, 2006 McDowell and Eames, 2006) is that hydrogen futures are assessed in very different ways by different stakeholders, so that the overall desirability of hydrogen as an energy carrier becomes problematic. The same can be said about public attitudes towards moving to a hydrogen-based economy. 

To date, there is no use for hydrogen as an energy carrier. Despite this, there are ideas and endeavours to use hydrogen in all final energy sectors. The following deals with a few examples which could gain more importance in the future. 

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