The hydrogen economy and its implications for transport in the future and current advances and projects utilizing hydrogen technolgy in advanced power systems

The hydrogen economy is an inevitable future economy in which hydrogen will be the primary energy source for mobile applications across all transport modes, as well as for other energy generation. However, controversy over the usefulness of a hydrogen economy has been complicated by issues of energy sourcing. Although some 15 mega-tonnes of hydrogen is produced annually worldwide, a future hydrogen economy would inevitably need to harness renewable energies in order to achieve the level of hydrogen production required at a reasonable unit price without producing any carbon dioxide emissions. Proponents of a hydrogen economy suggest that hydrogen might serve as an environmentally cleaner way to deliver energy to end-users, particularly in transportation applications. Critics argue that for many applications, direct use of energy in the form of electricity and fuel cells, and production of liquid synthetic fuels from carbon dioxide could accomplish many of the same goals while requiring only a small fraction of the investment. This paper will expand on these issues and suggest a number of ways forward that may build on fuel cell and other technologies. The evidence that human activity is, at least, accelerating climate change is the major driver and imperative to change to non-carbon fuels where hydrocarbons are most used - in transportation. The barriers to change are due to great institutional inertia, and the transformation to hydrogen systems involves transformation of the worlds most powerful industries - energy and transportation.

• Authors:
  • MCCLUSKEY, J
  • BUCKNALL, R
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Serial:
  • PROCEEDINGS OF THE 14TH WORLD CONGRESS ON INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS (ITS), HELD BEIJING, OCTOBER 2007
  • Publisher: ITS America

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Alternate fuels; Attitudes; Carbon dioxide; Conferences; Economics; Fuel cells; Greenhouse effect; Hydrogen; Intelligent transportation systems; Sustainable development; Technology; Transportation
• Subject Areas: Economics; Operations and Traffic Management; I10: Economics and Administration; I15: Environment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01121049
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: TRL
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Feb 5 2009 7:57AM