It appears as though the variety of alternative energy solutions is broadening all the time. We are all familiar with solar power and biofuel … but we investigate another alternative that sounds just too good to be true?

Hydrogen; the first element on the periodic table is the most abundant element on Earth with the sea as its largest, matchless reserve (unlike oil). Among its many uses, it could also become the number one source to generate power for urban polluters i.e. motor vehicles.

It is not a new venture for biotechnologists as we have seen the invention of hydrogen conversion kits, which mixes gasoline and water that results in a reduction of carbon emissions. But now we wait for the development of a completely hydrogen and eco-friendly source due to the innovation of the hydrogen fuel cell!

We spoke to John Rives who has over 20 years experience in manufacturing, supported by the knowledge from his academic studies; he has obtained a Masters in Ceramics Engineering and an MBA in trend analysis of technologies and industrial analysis. Many thanks for his contribution and use of his paper titled Overview of Global and USA Trends: Their impact on Fuel Cells and Opportunities for Fuel Cell Producers, which this article has strongly been based upon.

What is a hydrogen fuel cell and how does it work?

The fuel cell is an electrochemical conversion device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water and heat as its by-product. As long as fuel is supplied, the fuel cell will continue to generate power. Since this fuel is produced by the electrochemical conversion and not combustion, the process is clean, quiet and highly efficient – two to three times more efficient than fuel burning.

No other energy generation technology offers the combination of benefits that fuel cells do. In addition to low to zero emissions, benefits include high efficiency and reliability, multi-fuel capability, flexibility, durability, scalability and ease of maintenance. Fuel cells operate silently, so they reduce noise pollution as well as air pollution and the waste heat from a fuel cell can be used to provide hot water or space heating for a home or office.

When did research begin into the hydrogen fuel cell?

There seems to be a lengthy time line of events when we looked into the history of the fuel cell. Sir William Robert Grove first conceived it in 1839. Grove, known as inventor and physicist, managed to produce energy after mixing hydrogen and oxygen together in the presence of an electrolyte. The outcome, however, was of very little electricity but this was the stimulus of many others’ experiments, including researchers Ludwig Mond + Charles Langer and William White.

Though it wasn’t until 1932 when engineer Francis T Bacon, descendent of the famous Francis Bacon produced the vital results from his research. His researched continuously until 1959 when he finally was able to demonstrate a five-kilowatt fuel cell that could power a welding machine. In the same year, Harry Karl Ihrig, engineer at Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, used a fuel cell to power a 20-horsepower tractor.

Research has come a long way into the hydrogen fuel cell to really show its efficiency and scope of commercial use. General Electric used Francis T Bacon’s work to design the way in which NASA’s Space shuttles can be effectively powered by electricity. Today, hydrogen cells produce the electricity for NASA Space shuttles and the same fuel cells provide drinking water for the crew!

Why is it becoming more important to have these fuel cells come to market?

To understand the urgency to commercialise hydrogen fuel cell use and prioritise alternative energy research, we need to look at the actual figures of electricity usage. According to the Electricity Power Research Institute, electricity as a percentage of total energy consumption has increased from 25% in 1970, to nearly 40% today and is forecast to exceed 50% in the near future. This progressing surge is the result of expanding demands – the growth of Internet, advanced telecommunications and computers being the main drivers. Energy to power the Internet doubles every 5 years, which can only increase more based on the developing infrastructures and connectivity needs of emerging economies.

Rives outlines why it is claimed fossil fuel sources will run out by the year 2050:

• Emerging countries such as China and India, possibly Brazil as well will dramatically increase the global energy demand.
• Oil will be over $100 per barrel and probably over $200 by 2015.
• EROI in 2000 was at an 11:1 ratio, so it is taking much more energy to get the energy supply coupled with rising demand.This trend suggests the cost of fossil fuel energy will rise exponentially.
• Germany has recently written down their projected coal reserves by 99%.
• China is stockpiling over 20 million tones of coal in order to hedge against the looming reality of shortages. China’s power largely comes from coal-fired power plants. Coal is also used in coke batteries that are used for producing iron in blast furnaces.

Portable energy platforms, such as hydrogen fuel cell generators, will become paramount in developing countries whilst power plants will become cost prohibitive for isolated communities of China and India, which are known to stifle their growth in becoming developed countries. For reasons such as the proliferation of cell phones instead of landlines require the construction of cell towers instead of telephone line infrastructure. Also broadband improvements via cell carriers will bring Internet needs consistent power supply. This explosion in the developing regions of the world has major implications for its impact on energy use and emissions.

Why is it taking so long for the commercialisation of the hydrogen cell?

The fuel cell industry faces several hurdles due to the lack of creditability in the VC and financial institutions. This lack of creditability stems from past over-promising and under-delivering of commercial viable products especially in the pursuit of the hydrogen car, which is not estimated to be viable until 2015. The fuel cell industry must deliver successful commercialisation of products to the market, which will lead to higher volumes and lower prices of fuel cell technologies. This will be facilitated by speeding up market development and dramatically improving production of products from R&D to the customer. Consequently, this will create proven market demands that are sustainable. Effective and predictable performance coupled with very high reliability will be paramount in achieving this important milestone for the fuel cell industry; consumers want performance and reliability coupled with products that deliver the attributes that they desire and not technology that they are not ready for presently. The major hurdle for the public and commercial industry is that the cost is too expensive and these customers need the cost to come down.

These issues include safety in the storage of hydrogen for vehicles coupled with the massive infrastructure expense of distribution centres.This distraction circumvented the development of viable commercial products, which could have aided consumer awareness and acceptance of fuel cells in the first place. The fuel cell industry must collaborate with all governments, universities and large companies in order to increase the publicity of the benefits of fuel cells.

How close to market are we and how optimistic should the public be?

Even with the restrictions mentioned above, the alternative energy market is predicted to be a $100billion market by 2014, with the hydrogen fuel cells projected to be worth $15billion and $35 billion once automotive fuel cells become viable.

Ballard Power has already begun shifting away from targeting the automotive markets, to those that will easily adopt technologies (stationary and portable) that will require power from hydrogen fuel cells. They narrowed their product scope to telecommunication and material handling equipments such as forklifts. Considering the benefits of fuel cell technologies needs to be proven to be commercially viable in order for consumer acceptance, it is positive to see that Wal-Mart and Sysco are testing Ballard’s forklifts with promising results. Ballard have, moreover, made roads in Japan using their cogeneration products, which saved 30% in energy use and 40% reduction in emissions.

Optimism definitely lies with Mayor of London, Boris Johnson who wants to create the first ‘hydrogen highway’ in the UK by 2012 as part of the larger aim to make Britain the leader in Fuel Cell Technology.

How much cost will it save consumers compared to other fuel?

Rives explains that this is an evolving and emerging number and that assumptions cannot viably be made until wide spread use of fuel cells has been accepted by the public. One assumption with vehicles is a ratio of 2.4 for current combustion engines and 1.66 for hybrids.

The main issue with Combined Heat and Power (CHP) stationary power systems is their upfront capital expense, though they have advantages that would offset this; these units run without noise for about 10 years and have a combined efficiency of about 85%. It is expected these CHP systems will save homeowners 30% per month on their electric utility bill as current grid systems have a 45% efficiency rate. The South Korean government, starting in 2010, is subsidizing residential CHP systems at 80% and it is hoped that by 2015, these systems will be less than $8000 and less than $4000 by 2018. These systems again last over 10 years and allow for a totally “off grid” operation so there is no risk of power outages. So by 2015, most homes can expect a payback in about 2 years or less.

Our research into the hydrogen fuel cell ultimately shows we could quite easily enter the era of a hydrogen-fuelled economy. From outlining the above facts and figures, the evident benefits and abundance of this energy source do make us wonder why so much time is being taken to take advantage of the fuel cell.

Alternative energy industries must come together in a collaborative agreement that they all can work together to form an integrated system that ties all of them together as the solution. This would result in mutual beneficial partnerships instead of them competing against each other. Industrial collaborative partnership will then be able to lead government policy, which is currently fragmented, disconnected, and without crisp direction or focus. Government policy, as illustrated by the South Korean government, is a major force in bringing the fuel cell as viable and affordable to the consumer.

It is a fascinating subject and we would love to hear your thoughts on this subject. Why do you think there is not more positive publicity and funding being made available for this ?

Related Links & Videos

What is a Fuel Cell?

Hydrogen Fuel Safety

TFL to use Hyrogen Cells

London Hydrogen Partnership

Renewable Energy Focus

General Motors Tests Hydrogen (video)

Honda FCX Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle (video)

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