There is massive potential for hydrogen to play an important role in achieving low carbon energy systems. To contribute to a low-carbon economy, hydrogen must be produced sustainably including renewable energy sources, biomass and from byproducts of other chemicals. This hydrogen can then be burnt to generate low or zero carbon energy.
Hydrogen is also a clean and sustainable energy carrier that can be easily stored in highly concentrated form and moved around. This hydrogen energy is directly usable for efficient electricity generation in fuel cells for numerous applications including vehicles. This can bring about major improvements in air quality and enhance security of energy supply removing the intermittency of solar, wind and marine electricity generation.
As an example, efficient, hydrogen fuelled vehicles can eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from the fuel supply chain, contributing to the Welsh Assembly Government’s targets of reduced emissions.
Professor Alan Guwy
Sustainable Energy Research Centre (SERC), University of Glamorgan
Web address: www.h2wales.org.uk