Hydrogen fuell cells

Hydrogen (H2) is the most abundant element in nature. It is found in all living things, in water and also in fossil fuels such as natural gas. It is a colourless odourless, tasteless and inexhaustible gas which does not produce harmful emissions such as CO2. However, it is not found freely in nature and as a result it is necessary to use energy sources to produce it.

Hidrogen

Like electricity, energy is not an energy source; instead it is a carrier of energy or energy vector. Its advantage is that it can be generated using any energy source and in addition, it can easily be stored and transported to the place where it is to be used.

Practically all hydrogen is now produced from natural gas. Only a small portion is produced using water electrolysis. The purpose of this process is to separate the hydrogen and the oxygen in the water (H2O). To do this, electricity is needed.

Renewable energy sources can be used to generate the electricity needed for this hydrogen-producing process. Stored in fuel cells this hydrogen can again be used to generate electricity wherever and whenever it is required.

The fuel cell

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices which allow chemical energy to be transformed directly into electricity without requiring it to be turned into heat energy first, i.e., without any combustion.

They work in a similar way to batteries, except that they never run flat, because as long as they are supplied with hydrogen and oxygen, they produce electricity indefinitely. The chemical process that generates electricity is a result of the oxidation reaction of the hydrogen when it comes in contact with the oxygen obtained from the air.