National Hydrogen Institute of Australia(NHIA)

The Parallel of Significance:-

A parallel of significance has been reached between, the importance of Hydrogen in its nuclear sense as in our stars, with hydrogen in its humble chemical sense here on Earth. - © Stephen V Zorbas - 1995

Hydrogen and the Hydrogen Economy have been mentioned now for many years, and you may agree or disagree with hydrogen being selected as our future "forever" fuel of the twenty first(21st) century. The International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE), has many nations involved seeking hydrogen to be as available as petrol by year 2020.Most agree that hydrogen will in fact become a reality and its only a question of time and timing. Before making your mind up please download the following report and learn the fundamentals about hydrogen. Twenty Hydrogen Myths ( Physicist A.Lovins) http://www.rmi.org/images/other/Energy/E03-05_20HydrogenMyths.pdf(350KB).

Replacing fossil fuels won't be easy, as the energy content is very high and we have become attached to such for so long. We drive our cars which are only 15%-21% efficient, and still get 450kls to 600kls on a tank of petrol. This means that our cars almost waste 80% of the energy in petrol creating heat, whilst ~20% pushes the car 450kls to 600kls.That is a measure of how rich in energy fossil fuels are, and gives us an indication how much energy we need to replace such fossil fuels. Ethanol, LPG, NG, Bio-D. and others still create pollution but at a lower level. Electric cars require electricity only, but the question is where does that electricity come from. Large volumes of electric cars holding large amounts of electrical energy would need government intervention/regulation, as the demand for the massive amount of extra electricity required would lead to many new power stations needing to be built. These new power stations would need to be renewable electricity generators, so the extra electricity required for the electric cars does not create any pollution. Small demonstration projects involving small electric vehicles are fine, as the amounts are miniscule.

Hydrogen can be generated from electricity and water via electrolysis, with renewable electricity as well being highly desired as like for electric cars. The hydrogen generated would be used in a fuel cell car which is an electric car, just that the fuel cell generates the electricity rather than holds the electrical energy (batteries) in electric cars as we know it. Hydrogen can be generated from natural gas as most of the hydrogen produced today comes from such natural gas reforming. Natural gas reforming has been the desired production scenario for hydrogen for over a decade, as relating to hydrogen supply for large numbers of fuel cell vehicles. California(US) has many hydrogen stations(25-40) preparing for a year 2015 mass production scenario. Europe has a planned 1000 hydrogen stations before year 2015 to be built. Apart from the obvious pollution reduction such fuel cell vehicles would achieve, it is as well a strong movement away from fossil fuels and the total cost associated with such.

As per the report below the near price per kg of hydrogen for fuel cell powered vehicles is US$4-$6(A$4.30-$6.45 at 28/02/2008) : One(1) kg of Hydrogen in energy is ~= one(1) US gal (petrol) = 3.785 L : This equates to A$1.13 / L - A$1.69 / L BUT, as hydrogen in a hydrogen fuel cell is twice as efficient as petrol in a combustion engine car, on a $ per kilometre basis the price per kg & L is halved from A$1.13 / L - A$1.69 / L to A$.56 / L - A$.845 / L. What this now means on a cost basis is that hydrogen is now cost competitive with petrol. In Sydney Australia on the 28/02/2008 the price of petrol was A$1.45 / L Hydrogen Infrastructure Assessment-Download(1.6meg.)http://www.h2andyou.org/pdf/10Things.pdf Sustainable Communities Australia

The quest to make hydrogen the fuel of the future Sustainable Schools Australia

Suggested policy directions on hydrogen in Australia:03/04

[1] The adoption of hydrogen as Australia’s future energy carrier (already achieved).[2] The increase in the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET).[3] Significant increases in electricity generated by free renewable energy before year 2010.[4] The development of a large solar thermal electricity (SCS) plant (200-300 MW).[5] Adaptation of solar paraboloidal concentrators for large solar chemical storage.[6] The development of hydrogen production from renewable energy projects.[7] Progression of a large Solar Concentrator Systems (SCS) using paraboloids for a mass hydrogen production plant before year 2013.[8] Australia to be the nation for a large mass hydrogen demonstration project as desired by The International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (<2010).[9] Urban transport is to adopt blended fuels like HCNG as soon as possible by demonstration project, progressing with hybrid vehicles to fuel cell vehicles.[10] Commercial fleet demonstrations of Fuel Cell Vehicles by year 2007. .[12]Strategies as “Stepping Stones” where appropriate, to further H₂ & Fuel Cells.[13] Developing educational modules with the Fuel Cell Institute of Australia for schools.