are hydrogen fuel cells renewable
Hydrogen, when used in a fuel cell, is an emissions-free alternative fuel that can be produced from diverse domestic energy sources. Research and commercial efforts are under way to build the hydrogen fueling infrastructure and produce hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that are practical for widespread use. And if you use a renewable energy source as the main source of hydrogen, a fuel cell can be considered a renewable energy source. Unlike conventional technologies, fuel is not burned but is combined in a chemical process. A fuel cell consists of two electrodes sandwiched around an electrolyte. When hydrogen is used in a fuel cell for electricity production, water is produced and can be easily recycled for reuse. Therefore, the actual consumption of water for renewable hydrogen production is quite low. One of the most significant challenges in using hydrogen is transporting it to the point of use. A fuel cell uses the chemical energy of hydrogen or another fuel to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity. If hydrogen is the fuel, electricity, water, and heat are the only products. Fuel cells directly convert the chemical energy in hydrogen to electricity, with pure water and heat as the only byproducts. Hydrogen-powered fuel cells are not only pollution-free, but a two to three fold increase in the efficiency can be experienced when compared to traditional combustion technologies. The technology can be used to make electricity to power vehicles, homes, and businesses. And if you use a renewable energy source as the main source of hydrogen, a fuel cell can be considered a renewable energy source. Unlike conventional technologies, fuel is not burned but is combined in a chemical process. Similar to a battery, a fuel cell with a supply of hydrogen and oxygen can be used to power devices that use electricity. While both batteries and fuel cells convert chemical energy into electrical energy, batteries store this chemical energy inside the battery itself. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are zero emission and run on compressed hydrogen fed into a fuel cell stack that produces electricity to power the vehicle. A fuel cell can be used in combination with an electric motor to drive a vehicle – quietly, powerfully and cleanly. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL hydrogen and fuel cell research focuses on developing, integrating, and demonstrating hydrogen production and delivery, hydrogen storage, and fuel cell technologies for transportation, stationary, and portable applications. A fuel, such as hydrogen, is fed to the anode, and air is fed to the cathode. In a hydrogen fuel cell, a catalyst at the anode separates hydrogen molecules into protons and electrons, which take different paths to the cathode. The electrons go through an external circuit, creating a flow of electricity.
Yes