The Hydrogen Alternative

Abstract

Hydrogen is the cleanest fuel known to man and the most prominent alternative to carbonbased fuels, although it is not available as a free gas on earth, it can be produced from various sources using the correct combination of pressure and temperature. The deep time that our planet has given life has allowed it to grow from a tiny seed of genetic possibility to a planet wide web of complexity we are part of today, where today heating, refrigeration, telecommunication and appliances have become vital in everyday life. Production of electricity using fossil fuels has been under the scanner for quite some time now because of their availability and effects on the environment hydrogen emerges out in this scenario as the future fuel and setting the stage towards the hydrogen economy. The clean nature of hydrogen and the efficiency of fuel cells taken together offer an appealing alternative to fossil fuels. This paper reviews the existing infrastructure of hydrogen production and storage, while simultaneously explores the reason why it will be an inevitability in the near future to meet our ever increasing energy needs.