Transportation of people and commodities being a socio-economic criterion needs clean energy and the demand is kept on increasing with modernization. Consequently, generation of a fuel with safer, efficient, economic and reasonably environmental friendly features is the key issue towards fulfilling such demands. Hydrogen seems to be an ideal synthetic energy carrier due to its lightweight, exclusive abundance and environmentally benign oxidation product (water). However, storage remains a big challenge. In this communication, recent developments in the production of hydrogen fuel, applications and storage together with the environmental impacts of hydrogen as energy carrier are emphasized.

Hydrogen the future transportation fuel: From production to applications

Mobility (transport of people and goods) is a socio-economic reality and need for which is bound to grow in the coming years. Modes of transport should be safe, economic and reasonably environmental friendly. Hydrogen could be ideal as a synthetic energy carrier for transport sector as its gravimetric energy density is very high, abundantly available in combined form on the earth and its oxidation product (water) does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. However, its sustainable production from renewable resources economically, on-board storage to provide desirable driving range, usage in durable energy conversion devices and development of infrastructure for its delivery remain significant challenges. In this article, recent developments in the field of production, storage, transport and delivery of hydrogen along with environmental and safety aspects of its use as an energy carrier are presented. Almost any energy source can be used to produce hydrogen. Presently, non-renewable sources dominate hydrogen production processes but the need of the hour is to develop and promote the share of renewable sources for hydrogen production to make it completely sustainable. Hydrogen may be used as fuel for almost any application, where fossil fuels are used presently and would offer immediate benefits over the conventional fuels, if produced from renewable sources. For achieving a successful "hydrogen economy" in the near future, the technical and economic challenges associated with hydrogen must be addressed quickly. Finding feasible solutions to different challenges may take some time but technological breakthrough by way of on-going efforts do promise hydrogen as the ultimate solution for meeting our future energy needs for the transport sector.

Hydrogen: A sustainable fuel for future of the transport sector

Methane decomposition to COx-free hydrogen and nano-carbon material on group 8–10 base metal catalysts: A review

A survey of the economics of hydrogen production, storage, transport, and end-use technologies has been completed. More than 100 publications concerning the economics of current and near-term hydrogen technologies were surveyed. Technologies more than 20 years from commercialization were not considered.

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Survey of the Economics of Hydrogen Technologies

The study of hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts for water electrolysis is a developing field in which noble metal-based materials are commonly used. However, the associated high cost and low abundance of noble metals limit their practical application. Non-noble metal catalysts, aside from being inexpensive, highly abundant and environmental friendly, can possess high electrical conductivity, good structural tunability and comparable electrocatalytic performances to state-of-the-art noble metals, particularly in alkaline media, making them desirable candidates to reduce or replace noble metals as promising electrocatalysts for water electrolysis. This article will review and provide an overview of the fundamental knowledge related to water electrolysis with a focus on the development and progress of non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts in alkaline, polymer exchange membrane and solid oxide electrolysis. A critical analysis of the various catalysts currently available is also provided with discussions on current challenges and future perspectives. In addition, to facilitate future research and development, several possible research directions to overcome these challenges are provided in this article.

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H.-M. Kühne

Papers

Primary energy sources for hydrogen production