Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
may lower the cost of hydrogen to a level where it is competitive with conventional fuels
At present, the value of hydrogen lies in its energy density and portability. Provided
we can find ways to safely transport it in large quantities, hydrogen can provide a highly
effective means of energy storage. That is why the future of hydrogen use will largely
depend on the future of renewable energy. Unlike fossil or nuclear energies, renewables by
their nature require accompanying storage strategies.
Where wind and solar technologies account for just a tiny percentage of the current
electricity mix in most countries, storage is largely irrelevant. However, if we imagine a
future where the wind and the sun are our main sources of energy, we will need a variety
of storage approaches to get us through the doldrums and sunless days.
1
Hydrogen easily reacts with oxygen in a combustion reaction where energy and water is
released: 2H
2
+ O
2
→
2H
2
O + energy.
