Hydrogen - and here the experts are in agreement - can be the fuel of the future. Be it in a mobile form - in a travelling car for example - or a stationary form such as a house. Hydrogen is a true multi-talent when it comes to providing electricity and driving power.
Small and light and full of power
Hydrogen is the smallest chemical element; it may be compressed to a great degree (squashed together under pressure to form gaseous hydrogen=GH2) or liquefied (liquid hydrogen=LH2) and stored in a supercooled state at minus 253 degrees Celsius. With liquid hydrogen it is possible to store lots of energy in a small space, i.e. its energy density is greater than that of gaseous hydrogen. To this end it always has to remain so cold however. This requires a special storage unit with excellent heat insulation - something we call a cryogenic storage unit.
A clean bundle of energy
Hydrogen may be used as a fuel because it burns together with oxygen. If these two elements are mixed and burnt, the result is water and lots of energy. A never-ending cycle is created: Hydrogen may be produced from water and when combusted it is turned into water again.
How can an emission-free hydrogen cycle be created?
The only drawback with hydrogen, however, is that it is not an energy source like the sun or coal, but a (secondary) energy carrier which first has to be produced. In industry hydrogen is produced by splitting methane, the main component in natural gas. However: This production releases carbon dioxide, which is a burden on the environment.
The long-term objective, however, is that of creating a truly emission-free energy future with hydrogen. One possible way is electrolysis, which breaks down water with the aid of electricity - which should be produced from renewable energy sources of course - into hydrogen and oxygen.
Where and how can hydrogen be used?
There are so many possibilities for the use of hydrogen: Rockets have long been using it as a fuel for their flights into space, hydrogen-powered miniature fuel cells are replacing conventional batteries in laptops, mobile phones etc. Depending on their size and power, fuel cells can also be used to generate heat and electricity for houses or replace batteries in vehicles with an electro motor. As road traffic currently plays a major role in energy consumption, it is particularly important to conduct research into alternative means of transport.
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