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5 Fast Facts about Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
If you haven’t heard about hydrogen and fuel cells before, then listen up. These technologies are bursting on to the scene and have the potential to solve some of the biggest problems in energy ranging from commercial buildings to transportation.
And, while most people are more familiar with solar, wind and battery power, keep your eye on these up-and-coming technologies that could add to our nation’s diverse energy mix.
Here are five things to know about hydrogen and fuel cells.
1. HYDROGEN IS THE MOST ABUNDANT ELEMENT ON EARTH.
Hydrogen is an alternative fuel that has very high energy content by weight. It’s locked up in enormous quantities in water, hydrocarbons, and other organic matter. Hydrogen can be produced from diverse, domestic resources including fossil fuels, biomass, and water electrolysis with wind, solar, or grid electricity. The environmental impact and energy efficiency of hydrogen depends on how it is produced.
2. FUEL CELLS CAN BE USED TO POWER SEVERAL APPLICATIONS.
Hydrogen and fuel cells can be used in a broad range of applications. These range from powering buildings, cars, trucks, to portable electronic devices and backup power systems. Because fuel cells can be grid-independent, they’re also an attractive option for critical load functions such as data centers, telecommunications towers, hospitals, emergency response systems, and even military applications for national defense.
3. FUEL CELLS ARE A CLEAN WAY TO PRODUCE POWER.
Fuel cells are similar to batteries in that they produce electricity without combustion or emissions. Unlike batteries, fuel cells do not run down or need to recharge—as long as there’s a constant source of fuel and oxygen. Compared to conventional gasoline vehicles, fuel cell vehicles can even reduce carbon dioxide by up to half if the hydrogen is produced by natural gas and by 90%, if the hydrogen is produced by renewable energy, such as wind and solar. There are also no pollutants emitted from the tailpipe—just water!
4. FUEL CELL CARS ARE VERY SIMILAR TO TRADITIONAL GASOLINE POWERED CARS.
Similar to today’s gasoline vehicles, fuel cell electric cars can have a driving range of more than 300 miles on one tank of hydrogen fuel. They can refuel in just a few minutes and the fueling experience is almost identical to a gas station. Since the “engine” (i.e., fuel cell) has no moving parts, you’ll never need to change the oil. But because a fuel cell is more than twice as efficient as an internal combustion engine, a fuel cell car travels farther on that tank of hydrogen than a traditional car would on gasoline. This means you only need about half the amount of hydrogen, with double the fuel economy.
5. THERE ARE MORE THAN 30 COMMERCIAL HYDROGEN STATIONS IN CALIFORNIA TODAY.
More than 30 public retail hydrogen fueling stations are online in California, with plans to install 100. There are also several stations ready to open up in the Northeast. With careful planning, the focus has been to add hydrogen mostly at existing gasoline stations. These efforts are giving early fuel cell car adopters’ confidence that they can drive normally and have access to hydrogen wherever they go within these regions. Efforts are also underway in Hawaii, with other markets expected to develop as consumer demand increases.
Explain how hydrogen fuel cells work, and why they provide a healthy, clean way to produce heat and electricity.
All Answers 1
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Short answer
A hydrogen fuel cell makes electricity electrochemically by combining hydrogen and oxygen. The only direct products at the cell are electricity, heat, and water vapor—no combustion, no tailpipe NOx or particulates—so when the hydrogen is produced cleanly, fuel cells provide a very low‑pollution, energy‑efficient way to supply electricity and useful heat.
How a fuel cell works (step‑by‑step)
- Basic parts: an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte/separator.
- At the anode hydrogen molecules (H2) are split into protons (H+) and electrons (e–).
- The electrons flow through an external circuit to do useful work (electricity), then return to the cathode.
- The protons pass through the electrolyte to the cathode.
- At the cathode oxygen (from air) combines with the protons and returning electrons to form water:
2 H2 + O2 → 2 H2O
- Heat is generated as a byproduct and can be recovered for heating or hot water (cogeneration).
Common fuel cell types
- PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cells: low temperature (~60–90°C), fast startup, used in vehicles and many small stationary systems.
- Solid oxide fuel cells: high temperature (600–1,000°C), used for stationary power and CHP, can run on hydrogen or some hydrocarbon fuels.
(Principle is the same: electrochemical conversion of fuel to electricity + heat, not combustion.)
Why fuel cells are a clean, healthy option
- No combustion emissions at the point of use: Unlike internal‑combustion engines or gas boilers, fuel cells do not emit nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM2.5), or sulfur oxides (SOx) during operation—major contributors to respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
- Low noise and no local air pollutant exposure: Quieter and cleaner operation improves both outdoor and indoor air quality and reduces noise pollution.
- Higher electrical efficiency: Fuel cells typically achieve ~40–60% electrical efficiency; when used in combined heat and power (CHP) systems the total system efficiency can reach 70–90%, so less fuel is needed per unit of useful energy compared with separate electricity and heat generation.
- Water is the main direct emission: The primary exhaust product is water vapor; there are no tailpipe soot or combustion byproducts.
- Enables renewable integration and long‑duration energy storage: Electrolysis can make hydrogen from surplus wind/solar (so‑called “green hydrogen”), letting renewable energy be stored and later used in fuel cells to supply clean electricity and heat.
- Reduced lifecycle pollution when hydrogen is low‑carbon: If hydrogen is produced from renewables (green) or from natural gas with effective CO2 capture (blue), lifecycle greenhouse‑gas and air‑pollutant emissions are much lower than conventional fossil fuels. If hydrogen is produced from unabated fossil fuel reforming (gray hydrogen), upstream emissions are higher—so the production pathway matters.
Practical health and climate impact
- Widespread fuel cell adoption using low‑carbon hydrogen can cut urban NOx and PM, improving public health and lowering hospital visits for asthma and heart disease.
- It can reduce CO2 emissions compared with internal combustion and separate grid + boiler systems—potentially dramatically if the hydrogen is renewable.
Caveats and safety
- The local environmental and health benefits depend strongly on how the hydrogen is produced. To maximize climate and health gains, prioritize green (electrolytic) or low‑carbon hydrogen with carbon capture.
- Hydrogen is flammable and handled at high pressures; but modern storage, refueling, and fuel‑cell systems follow strict codes and safety measures and are comparable in risk to other common fuels.
Bottom line
Fuel cells convert hydrogen to electricity and heat with high efficiency and essentially no local combustion pollutants, producing water as the main emission. When the hydrogen comes from low‑carbon sources, fuel cells offer a clean, healthy way to provide heat and electricity for vehicles, buildings, backup power, and more.
A hydrogen fuel cell makes electricity electrochemically by combining hydrogen and oxygen. The only direct products at the cell are electricity, heat, and water vapor—no combustion, no tailpipe NOx or particulates—so when the hydrogen is produced cleanly, fuel cells provide a very low‑pollution, energy‑efficient way to supply electricity and useful heat.
How a fuel cell works (step‑by‑step)
- Basic parts: an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte/separator.
- At the anode hydrogen molecules (H2) are split into protons (H+) and electrons (e–).
- The electrons flow through an external circuit to do useful work (electricity), then return to the cathode.
- The protons pass through the electrolyte to the cathode.
- At the cathode oxygen (from air) combines with the protons and returning electrons to form water:
2 H2 + O2 → 2 H2O
- Heat is generated as a byproduct and can be recovered for heating or hot water (cogeneration).
Common fuel cell types
- PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cells: low temperature (~60–90°C), fast startup, used in vehicles and many small stationary systems.
- Solid oxide fuel cells: high temperature (600–1,000°C), used for stationary power and CHP, can run on hydrogen or some hydrocarbon fuels.
(Principle is the same: electrochemical conversion of fuel to electricity + heat, not combustion.)
Why fuel cells are a clean, healthy option
- No combustion emissions at the point of use: Unlike internal‑combustion engines or gas boilers, fuel cells do not emit nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM2.5), or sulfur oxides (SOx) during operation—major contributors to respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
- Low noise and no local air pollutant exposure: Quieter and cleaner operation improves both outdoor and indoor air quality and reduces noise pollution.
- Higher electrical efficiency: Fuel cells typically achieve ~40–60% electrical efficiency; when used in combined heat and power (CHP) systems the total system efficiency can reach 70–90%, so less fuel is needed per unit of useful energy compared with separate electricity and heat generation.
- Water is the main direct emission: The primary exhaust product is water vapor; there are no tailpipe soot or combustion byproducts.
- Enables renewable integration and long‑duration energy storage: Electrolysis can make hydrogen from surplus wind/solar (so‑called “green hydrogen”), letting renewable energy be stored and later used in fuel cells to supply clean electricity and heat.
- Reduced lifecycle pollution when hydrogen is low‑carbon: If hydrogen is produced from renewables (green) or from natural gas with effective CO2 capture (blue), lifecycle greenhouse‑gas and air‑pollutant emissions are much lower than conventional fossil fuels. If hydrogen is produced from unabated fossil fuel reforming (gray hydrogen), upstream emissions are higher—so the production pathway matters.
Practical health and climate impact
- Widespread fuel cell adoption using low‑carbon hydrogen can cut urban NOx and PM, improving public health and lowering hospital visits for asthma and heart disease.
- It can reduce CO2 emissions compared with internal combustion and separate grid + boiler systems—potentially dramatically if the hydrogen is renewable.
Caveats and safety
- The local environmental and health benefits depend strongly on how the hydrogen is produced. To maximize climate and health gains, prioritize green (electrolytic) or low‑carbon hydrogen with carbon capture.
- Hydrogen is flammable and handled at high pressures; but modern storage, refueling, and fuel‑cell systems follow strict codes and safety measures and are comparable in risk to other common fuels.
Bottom line
Fuel cells convert hydrogen to electricity and heat with high efficiency and essentially no local combustion pollutants, producing water as the main emission. When the hydrogen comes from low‑carbon sources, fuel cells offer a clean, healthy way to provide heat and electricity for vehicles, buildings, backup power, and more.
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