In the past, many have considered the production and use of hydrogen, assuming that it is just another gaseous fuel and can be handled much like natural gas in today’s energy economy. With this study we present an analysis of the energy required to operate an elemental hydrogen economy, with particular reference to road transport. High-grade electricity from renewable or nuclear sources is need...

This chapter deals with the concept of “hydrogen economy”, which was introduced by John O.M’ Bockris in 1972. We summarize the fundamental principles and the progress for the reactions relevant to the hydrogen economy, namely the hydrogen and oxygen evolution for water electrolyzers, and the hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction for fuel cells. The activity of each reaction can be correlated ...

A large challenging of world economic development is to meet the demand of energy consumption while reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants [1-5]. Hydrogen, as an energy carrier, is widely regarded as a potential cost effective, renewable, and clean energy alternative to petroleum, especially in the transportation sector [1]. Extensive efforts are being made to develop a sustainab...

There is a growing need for hydrogen and a future hydrogen economy is high on the political agenda. But where should the hydrogen come from? The “sustainable” routes are still too expensive. Steam reforming of hydrocarbons is the most feasible route today. If CO2-sequestration is accepted, fossil fuels may play an important role in a starting future “hydrogen economy”. This will happen by use o...

HE TERM “HYDROGEN ECONOMY” is the title of a recent book [Rifkin, 2002], but the concept of using hydrogen as fuel for transportation systems has been advocated by environmentalists and others for at least three decades. There is no universally accepted definition of the “hydrogen economy,” but it is generally viewed as the replacement of the vast majority of petroleum fuels used by transportat...