This paper examines hydrogen fuel as a leading alternative energy technology, tracing interest in clean fuels from the mid-twentieth century to the present. It discusses the zero-emission promise of hydrogen-powered vehicles, the current environmental cost of hydrogen production, and the role of nanotechnology and artificial photosynthesis in advancing cleaner production methods. The paper also considers the political, economic, and global cooperation challenges that must be overcome before hydrogen can replace petroleum as the dominant energy source, arguing that a combination of alternative technologies—alongside committed public and political will—offers the most realistic path toward sustainable energy.
In the later part of the twentieth century — most especially after the 1960s, as concern about ecology, environmental consequences, and the state of the world grew — alternative fuel technologies began to be studied in earnest. Some have hypothesized that the idea of utilizing alternative fuel methods was being explored as early as World War II, and some even earlier, as the age of the automobile arose in the 1920s and 1930s in more developed countries (Gibilisco, 2006). Numerous technologies have emerged in the search for clean fuel: electricity, natural gas, hydrogen, and fuel cells. Each, of course, has its own adherents and detractors, each has a specific case for why it is the "best" technology, and each carries its own biases. One thing is probably clear, however: it will be more of a combination of these technologies that proves most effective in the short term, rather than placing all the fuel "eggs in one basket" (Alternative Energy Institute, introduction).
Hydrogen, as a fuel, is available now, but will need to become mass-produced in order to become cost-effective — which is equally true of all these technologies. For at least thirty years, research has been ongoing on hydrogen power for automobiles. Of all the technologies, hydrogen offers a "zero-emission technology," with the only byproduct from the vehicle being water vapor. However, one of the biggest disadvantages of hydrogen cars is the way that hydrogen is currently produced: those methods use a substantial amount of polluting processes, such as the release of carbon dioxide, to generate the fuel. Essentially, this means that the production of fuel cells uses at least as much energy — and produces at least as much pollution — as current gasoline engines (Swain, 2007).
"Emerging technologies for cleaner hydrogen production"
"Global political will and hydrogen's future"
You’re 39% through this paper. Sign up to read the remaining 2 sections.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.