Hydrogen

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Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the simplest element known to exist and the most abundant element in the universe. An atom of hydrogen has only one proton and one electron. Hydrogen has the highest energy content of any common fuel by weight, but the lowest energy content by volume. It is the lightest element, and a gas at normal temperature and pressure. Hydrogen is the source of all the energy we receive from the sun. The sun is basically a giant ball of hydrogen and helium gases. In a process called fusion, four hydrogen atoms combine to form one helium atom, releasing energy as radiation. This radiant energy is our most abundant energy source. It gives us light and heat and makes plants grow. It causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall. It is stored as chemical energy in fossil fuels. Most of the energy we use originally came from the sun. Hydrogen is one of the most promising energy carriers for the future of fuel. It is a high efficiency, low polluting fuel that can be used for transportation, heating, and power generation in places where it is difficult to use electricity. Since hydrogen gas is not found in its natural state on earth, it must be created.

Producing Hydrogen by Electrolysis

With a renewable electrical energy supply, such as hydroelectric, wind turbines, or photovoltaic cells, electrolysis of water allows hydrogen to be made without pollution. Usually, the electricity consumed is more valuable than the hydrogen produced so this method has not been widely used in the past, but the importance of electrolysis is increasing as human population and pollution increase, and electrolysis will become more economically competitive as non-renewable resources (carbon compounds) dwindle and as governments remove subsidies on carbon-based fuels. A hydrogen economy would be a vast improvement over a fossil fuel one. The cheapest way to make hydrogen has traditionally been with either natural gas or propane but this leaves a carbon print. For more information on Carbon Accountability please read up on this subject. A greener way to make hydrogen is through electrolysis.

The concept of making hydrogen from electrolysis has been around for some time now according to Emeral Insight "The technology of hydrogen production through conventional water electrolysis is well-established. Conventional electrolysis splits water into its components—hydrogen and oxygen—by charging water with an electrical current. The charge breaks the chemical bond between the hydrogen and oxygen and splits apart the atomic components. The resulting ions form at two poles: the anode, which is positively charged, and the cathode, which is negatively charged. Hydrogen ions gather at the cathode and react with it to form hydrogen gas, which is then collected. Oxygen goes through a similar process at the anode. The main drawbacks of conventional electrolysis for large-scale hydrogen production are the amount of electricity required for the process and the high cost of membrane production." Milestone for H2 Production by High-Temperature Electrolysis

Hydrogen through Electroloysis Supplied by Wind Renewable Energy

Wind-hydrogen hybrid power systems are now being utilized. There are at least two such operations in production on the island of of Utsira in Norway and a larger one in Denmark which you may read about below.

The Big Island could produce hydrogen by electrolysis using renewable energy from a wind farm, photovoltaic or geothermal sources. Producing hydrogen on the Big Island may prove economically productive as well as a source of fuel for converted Hydrogen Vehicles and buses. Hydrogen is pollution free when burned. Only electrolysis using renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar, hydroelectric or geothermal have no carbon dioxide emissions associated with hydrogen production via electrolysis. Hydrogen produced by fossil fuels have a carbon print and is not the best alternative.

"Professor Kanarev has shown a new form of electrochemistry which can generate much more Hydrogen than conventional electrolysis ever could. He claims at least 10 times but his data suggests more like 4,000 times more Hydrogen than the Wh input would predict." Kanarev Electrolysis

On the island of Utsira on the western coast of Norway the combination of wind power and hydrogen will provide electricity for 10 households - the world's first full-scale autonomous renewable energy system. When it’s windy, electrolysers produce hydrogen for storage, and when it's calm, a hydrogen engine and a fuel cell convert the hydrogen back to electricity.

The Utsira project is outstanding in that ten households receive all their electricity from renewable sources in a closed system. The power consumption of the islanders varies, but the stored hydrogen ensures that sufficient renewable power can be generated at any time – even when consumption is high and wind activity is minimal. Hydro Press Report The Utsira project is the first full-scale combined wind power and hydrogen plant, and is a pioneering step in the work to develop renewable energy systems based on hydrogen. Hydro News Source

The hydrogen that ensures stable power supply, is produced from water and electricity from one of the two 600-kilowatt wind turbines, by means of an electrolyser. The excess power from the turbines is sold on the electricity market.

Lolland Hydrogen Community

Denmark's first full-scale Wind-Hydrogen energy plant and testing facility, the Lolland Hydrogen Community, began operation in May 2007. It is also the European Union's first full-scale Hydrogen Community Demonstration facility for residential Fuel Cell Combined Heat and Power (CHP).

Iceland & Hydrogen

Iceland is the lead nation in the world using renewable energy. Iceland is using electricity from geothermal renewable energy to produce hydrogen. The Big Island could also do the same with its vast geothermal supply or with wind.

Projects

Project One involves a small scale wind farm producing hydrogen. Project Two involves a large scale wind farm hydrogen plant.