The Hydrogen Economy It seems like every day there is a new announcement in the news about automobiles powered by fuel cells. The promises are great, since fuel ceils have the potential to very quickly double the efficiency of cars while significantly reducing air pollution. At the same time, there have been news stories for decades about the problems associated with petroleum. Everything from oil spills to ozone alerts to global warming gets blamed on our dependence on fossil fuels. These two forces are leading the world toward what is broadly known as the hydrogen economy. If the predictions are true, over the next several decades we will all begin to see an amazing shift away from the fossil fuel economy we have today toward a much cleaner hydrogen future. Problems with the Fossil Fuel Economy While fossil fuels have played an important role in getting society to the point it is at today, there are four big problems that fossil fuels create: Air pollution—When cars burn gasoline, the internal combustion engine also produces: - Carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas - Nitrogen oxides, the main source of urban smog - Unburned hydrocarbons, the main source of urban ozone Environmental pollution—The process of transporting and storing oil has a big impact on the environment whenever something goes wrong. An oil spill, pipeline explosion or well fire can create a huge mess. Global warming—The carbon dioxide coming out of every car's tailpipe is a greenhouse gas that is slowly raising the temperature of the planet. The ultimate effects are unknown, but it is a strong possibility that, eventually, there will be dramatic climate changes that affect everyone on the planet. Dependence—The United States, and most other countries, cannot produce enough oil to meet demand, so they import it from oil-rich countries. That creates an economic dependence. When Middle East oil producers decide to raise the price of oil, the rest of the world has little choice but to pay the higher price. Advantages of the Hydrogen Economy The hydrogen economy promises to eliminate all of the problems that the fossil fuel economy creates. Therefore, the advantages of the hydrogen economy include: The elimination of pollution caused by fossil fuels—When hydrogen is used in a fuel cell to create power, it is a completely clean technology. The only byproduct is water. There are also no environmental dangers like oil spills to worry about with hydrogen. The elimination of greenhouse gases—If the hydrogen comes from the electrolysis of water, then hydrogen adds no greenhouse gases to the environment. There is a perfect cycle—electrolysis produces hydrogen from water, and the hydrogen recombines with oxygen to create water and power in a fuel cell. The elimination of economic dependence—The elimination of oil means no dependence on the Middle East and its oil reserves. Distributed production—Hydrogen can be produced anywhere that you have electricity and water. People can even produce it in their homes with relatively simple technology. The problems with the fossil fuel economy are so great, and the environmental advantages of the hydrogen economy so significant, that the push toward the hydrogen economy is very strong. Technological Hurdles The big question with the hydrogen economy is, 'Where does the hydrogen come from?' After that comes the question of transporting, distributing and storing hydrogen. Hydrogen tends to be large and tricky in its natural gaseous form. Once both of these questions are answered in an economical way, the hydrogen economy will be in place. Where Does the Hydrogen Come From? There are two possible sources for the hydrogen: Electrolysis of water—using electricit