Hydrogen is a viable source of energy due to its abundance and lack of toxic emissions. It is harvested from compounds through methods such as electrolysis and steam reforming, and stored in tanks before being used in fuel cells or batteries. Hydrogen energy is used in space shuttles, cars, buses, trains, and even rural hospitals.
Hydrogen energy is an energy source recently exploited to become one of the accessible forms of alternative energy, such as wind, water and solar energy. Engineers and scientists believe that hydrogen is a viable source of energy because it is the most abundant element in the universe and it is also the simplest of all elements, having only one proton and one electron. Hydrogen energy is very beneficial to the environment, as it does not produce toxic emissions when burned.
Hydrogen may be the most abundant element in the universe, but on Earth it is barely present on its own; rather, it exists with other elements to form compounds and gases, such as with oxygen to form water. Other organic products that contain hydrogen include fossil fuels, methanol and other natural gases. Algae and some bacteria also contain hydrogen because they absorb sunlight, which in turn contains hydrogen because the Sun is basically a hydrogen-containing star. To create hydrogen energy, hydrogen must be harvested from these compounds that undergo certain processes.
One of the most popular methods of producing pure hydrogen is electrolysis, which separates the hydrogen atoms from the oxygen atoms out of the water. Electrolysis is very effective and is also environmentally friendly because the process does not produce polluting emissions. However, it is not that efficient as it is very expensive to use. Another method of harvesting hydrogen is steam reforming, which separates carbon and hydrogen atoms from methane. Steam reforming is not as expensive as electrolysis, but is more harmful to the environment due to the carbon it releases into the air, causing a greenhouse effect.
In the process, hydrogen reacts with oxygen or carbon and produces hydrogen energy. In this way, hydrogen itself is not an energy source, but only acts as an energy carrier. The extracted hydrogen is then stored in tanks in liquid form, facilitating its storage and conservation. When it needs to be used, hydrogen is poured into fuel cells or batteries and gas tanks. Hydrogen energy is even credited by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for successfully lifting space shuttles.
In addition to fueling space shuttles, hydrogen energy has proven to be an effective fuel for cars, buses and trains. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that there are over 300 buses and cars that use hydrogen fuel, and there are approximately 70 hydrogen fueling stations in the states. Hydrogen energy is also applied as a generator and power system in rural hospitals not reached by power companies.
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