Fuel Cells

The global shift to decarbonization, earlier catalyzed by the Paris Accord and the related realization of the imperative to limit future global warming, has accelerated.

Hydrogen production from gas, oil and coal has a reputation for being dirty and inefficient. At present, the majority of the world’s H2 is produced and used in oil refineries and chemical plants.

The urgency to limit global warming to 1.5°C is intensifying. Global leaders are developing decarbonization strategies to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Accord.

Is hydrogen the fuel of the future? This most-abundant element in the universe has, for many years, played a key role in the international space program and in more down-to-earth applications for refinery upgrading and chemicals production, such as methanol and ammonia.

Hydrogen is recognized as playing a crucial role in global net-zero carbon targets, through its potential use in vehicles and in domestic heating. This is because H2 contains no carbon, so when used in a fuel cell or combustion engine its only product is water vapor. However, due to the low abundance of elemental H2 in the earth’s atmosphere, H2 must be first produced before it can be used as a fuel.

The air quality indexes (AQIs) and particulate matter (PM) concentrations in many fast-developing countries and regions are climbing to high levels that are considered extremely hazardous to public health and the environment.