Hydrogen Power

• Source of Hydrogen Power

  Natural gas, coal, water, biomass
• Energy Production from natural gas

  Steam methane reforming involves the reaction of natural gas with steam in the presence of a catalyst to produce hydrogen and carbon.
• Energy Production from coal and biomass

  Gasification or pyrolysis of coal or biomass produces a mix of hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
• Energy Production from water

  Electrolysis involves the splitting of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity and an electrolyser device (fuel cell).
• Advantages of Hydrogen Power

  • Hydrogen is abundant and readily available.
  • It is a continuous and renewable source of energy and is able to be produced on demand.
  • It doesn't produce greenhouse gas emissions if produced from electrolysis from water.
  • It is a powerful and efficient method, it's energy to fuel ratio is higher than most traditional sources of energy.
  • Most fuel cells run silently and have no moving parts so are easy to maintain.
  • It doesn't require a centralised power grid or power station so small fuel cells can be set in communities or individual houses/businesses.
  • Compressed hydrogen gas is easy to use and can be stored indefinitely without safety concerns.
  • The range of hydrogen fuel is greater than most electric cars.
  • Fuel cells can now produce a high power output and can be used on large vehicles.
  • Hydrogen could provide a fuel solution for trains on non-electrified sections of rail.
• Disadvantages of Hydrogen Power

  • Energy is required to produce hydrogen from natural gas, biomass, and water - often more than is recovered.
  • Producing hydrogen is expensive and time consuming.
  • Hydrogen gas is low density and needs large storage areas.
  • Large scale production, transportation, distribution, and storage is difficult.
  • Fuel cells are expensive to produce. This drives up the price of vehicles which use the technology.
  • Refuelling and starting time of hydrogen-powered vehicles is longer than conventional fuels.
  • Driving range of hydrogen vehicles is less than traditional fuels.
  • New, expensive infrastructure would have to be installed. It would also have to be widespread to encourage consumers to switch from fossil fuels or electric.
  • Government policy in the UK has focused on the promotion of electric vehicles. This has resulted in the infrastructure for electric vehicles being vastly more widespread & readily available.