What is Hydrogen Fuel Cell?

A hydrogen fuel cell is a technology that generates electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen in an electrochemical reaction, producing water as a byproduct. It’s a clean and efficient way to convert hydrogen fuel into electricity to power various applications.

How does hydrogen fuel cell work?

Hydrogen fuel cell consists of an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane. Hydrogen is fed to the anode and oxygen from the air is supplied to the cathode. At the anode, a catalyst separates hydrogen molecule into protons and electrons, which take different paths to the cathode. The protons move through the electrolyte to the cathode while electrons flow through an external circuit, creating an electric current. At the cathode, oxygen combines with electrons and protons to produce water.

Why hydrogen?

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and it can be produced using a variety of energy resources such as renewables, nuclear power and fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage. Once produced, hydrogen generates electrical power in a fuel cell, emitting only water vapour. It is highly efficient when compared to other energy sources. Most importantly there are no carbon emissions and it is critical for achieving net zero.

Is hydrogen safe to use as a fuel?

A number of hydrogen’s properties make it safer to handle and use than the fuels commonly used today. Hydrogen is non-toxic and is much lighter than air. This makes it dissipate quickly when released, enabling the fuel to be dispersed relatively quickly in the event of leak. All fuels pose some level of risk as it is its nature. But a safe system can be designed with appropriate engineering controls and proper guidelines.

How much time does it take to recharge/refuel?

Hydrogen vehicles can be refuelled quickly as compared to electric vehicles. It takes around 5 minutes to refill compressed hydrogen gas in the tank which is similar to the amount of time taken by gasoline vehicles. If the system uses swappable canister system for hydrogen storage, it is even faster - within a minute the canisters can be swapped.

Are there enough hydrogen refilling stations in the world?

Today, hydrogen is most commonly used in petroleum refining and fertilizer production. A very small percentage of hydrogen is currently required in transportation industry. Hence, very small number - less than 1000 refilling stations are there in the world. But as the demand for retail hydrogen for transportation will grow, the refilling stations network will also need to expanded.