22-02-2013, 03:57 PM
Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells
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The energy challenge
Worldwide demand for energy is growing at an alarming
rate. The European “World Energy Technology and Climate
Policy Outlook” (WETO) predicts an average growth rate
of 1.8% per annum for the period 2000-2030 for primary
energy worldwide. The increased demand is being met largely
by reserves of fossil fuel that emit both greenhouse gasses and
other pollutants. Those reserves are diminishing and they will
become increasingly expensive. Currently, the level of CO2
emissions per capita for developing nations is 20% of that for
the major industrial nations. As developing nations industrialise,
this will increase substantially. By 2030, CO2 emissions
from developing nations could account for more than half the
world CO2 emissions. Industrialised countries should lead the
development of new energy systems to offset this.
Energy security and supply
Today’s society depends crucially on the uninterrupted availability
of affordable fossil fuels which, in future, will be increasingly
concentrated in a smaller number of countries – creating the
potential for geopolitical and price instability. Hydrogen opens
access to a broad range of primary energy sources, including
fossil fuels, nuclear energy and, increasingly, renewable energy
sources (e.g. wind, solar, ocean, and biomass), as they become
more widely available. Thus, the availability and price of hydrogen
as a carrier should be more stable than any single energy
source. The introduction of hydrogen as an energy carrier,
alongside electricity, would enable Europe to exploit resources
that are best adapted to regional circumstances.
Economic competitiveness
Since the first oil crisis in the 1970s, economic growth has not
been directly linked with growth in energy demand in the industrial
sector, whereas in the transport sector increased mobility still
leads to a proportionate increase in energy consumption. The
amount of energy needed per unit growth must be reduced, while
the development of energy carriers and technologies to ensure
low-cost energy supply is of great importance. Development and
sales of energy systems are also major components of wealth creation,
from automobiles to complete power stations, creating
substantial employment and export opportunities, especially to
the industrialising nations. European leadership in hydrogen and
fuel cells will play a key role in creating high-quality employment
opportunities, from strategic R&D to production and craftsmen.