California Hydrogen

	Hydrogen and Research

Hydrogen Basics

98% of the mass of the universe is believed to be hydrogen. You are primarily made of H2O. When you studied chemistry, you were shown a table of period elements. First on the list was hydrogen. Hydrogen quickly combines with other elements. You find it in water, fuels, materials, and living beings.

Hydrogen is a carrier of energy. Hydrogen is the most simple of elements. It is an electron whirling around a proton. Separate the electrons, and move them in the same direction and you have electricity. Hydrogen is found in energy sources such as oil and natural gas, which is why they are called hydrocarbons. Hydrogen can be processed from plants, as can ethanol. With electrolysis, hydrogen can be separated form water (H2O).. It takes work to separate hydrogen from other elements. When separated, it exists as a gas at most temperatures.

Hydrogen is a multi-billion dollar business. You use it in your vehicle. Hydrogen is used to make gasoline achieve high-octane efficiency. Hydrogen is also used to make modern gasoline burn with far-less damaging emissions. 50 million tons of hydrogen is produced annually and primarily for refining oil into cleaner gasoline and diesel. Hydrogen production is doubling every 10 years.

Hydrogen Primer

Hydrogen Encyclopedia

California Hydrogen Highway

The Hydrogen Highway is a vision, a wonder, a joy ride, a network of fleets and fueling stations, and a trillion dollar yellow brick road. You are not in Kansas any more. This highway will take you from Hollywood's Emerald City to San Francisco's Golden Gate. It is transporting California's 35 million people away from their addiction to foreign oil and smog chocking freeways. Now they board magic buses and pollution-free cars.
Leaders in other states and distant countries watch, learn, adopt, and improve. Consider other innovations that started in California and expanded globally including semiconductors; breakthrough computer technology such as windows on computers, Internet browsers, and databases; global warming research and solutions; and Mickey Mouse.

California Hydrogen Highway

Hydrogen Vehicles

In 2004, 10 stations were fueling only 50 hydrogen vehicles in California. In 2010, over 170 hydrogen stations will fuel over 1,700 vehicles transporting over 30,000 daily riders. By 2030, hydrogen will likely replace gasoline as the most popular fuel for transportation.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

The only emission from a hydrogen fuel cells is water vapor. Fuel cells convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Fuel cells work by putting in a fuel, freeing hydrogen from the fuel, freeing electrons from the hydrogen, and electrons flow as electricity.

How Fuel Cells Work

FuelCellWorks

Hydrogen

California Hydrogen Highway

The Hydrogen Economy: Opportunities, Costs, Barriers, and R&D for the National Academies

Hydrogen Primer

Associations

California Hydrogen Business Council

California Fuel Cell Partnership

Energy Independence Now

Stationary Power

Global Stationary Fuel Cells Database

Green Hydrogen

96% of hydrogen came from fossil fuel in 2004. Hydrogen opponents use that as an argument to avoid hydrogen. Capturing waste hydrogen from process plants should be considered green and it is a source of fuel that is often less expensive than gasoline. On-site reforming that combines steam and natural gas is 80% efficient and far cleaner than gasoline, diesel and CNG. By 2025, hydrogen may primarily be created with clean energy, such as wind, solar, natural heat and biological processes.

Hydrogen Now! Renewable Hydrogen Information

Renewable Energy Magazine