We believe that hydrogen can be a part of our country's energy solutions. It has the ability to free us from fossil fuel dependency, rising oil and gasoline prices, and the production of harmful combustion emissions.
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe - it accounts for 90 percent of the universe by weight. While not commonly found in its pure form (H2) since it readily combines with other elements, it is in the water (H2O) that covers 70% of the Earth's surface and in all organic matter.
It can be a domestically produced fuel. Most of the hydrogen produced in the United States is made by steam reforming of natural gas. There are many other ways to produce hydrogen, including electrolysis - the production of hydrogen by splitting water molecules with electricity.
In comparison with other fuels, hydrogen has the highest energy content by weight. The amount of energy produced by hydrogen per unit weight of fuel is about 3 times the amount of energy contained in an equal weight of gasoline, and almost 7 times that of coal. As a fuel, hydrogen can be cheaper than gasoline or diesel.
Another advantage that hydrogen possesses is that its combustion can be completely non-polluting. When burned with oxygen the byproducts are heat and water - the process produces no carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate, or sulfur emissions.
Currently in our country, the primary use of hydrogen is not as a fuel, but as a chemical for commercial applications. Where hydrogen is mainly used as a fuel is with the United States space program. Energy for both the main engine of the Space Shuttle and the onboard fuel cells that provide the Shuttle's electric power is supplied by hydrogen.
Hydrogen has a high energy content and must be handled properly to be safe. In general, it is neither more nor less inherently hazardous than gasoline, propane, or methane. Safe handling depends on knowledge of its particular physical, chemical, and thermal properties and consideration of safe ways to accommodate those properties. Hydrogen, handled with this knowledge, is a safe fuel.
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