Hydrogen Energy

Hydrogen energy comes from the chemical element hydrogen. It's the most abundant element in the universe, every star you see at night is rich with it. Here on earth it doesn't occur as a gas naturally on it's own, it's usually combined with other elements like oxygen to make water, or in organic compounds like hydrocarbons such as propane, methanol and gasoline.

Reforming is the process that separates hydrogen from hydrocarbons by burning it. Electrolysis is the process that separates water into hydrogen and oxygen molecules with an electrical current. There's a variety of technologies to produce hydrogen from renewable resouces like: thermochemical conversion for biomass, photoelectrochemical systems, high-temperature chemical cycle water splitting, and photolytic and fermentative micro-organism systems.

Pure hydrogen, tho not very flamable, is actually safer than gasoline and contains a great deal of energy. NASA uses liquid hydrogen to launch its space shuttles - even the shuttle's electrical systems run on hydrogen fuel cells and the byproduct is pure water that the astronauts actually drink! That fact Geeks me out! Fuel cells and hydrogen combustion engines are two ways that power hydrogen cars. They are currently in developement and in competition with hybrid cars, already in consumer hands, and electric cars that are fast on the way.

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