Environmental Impact

When hydrogen is used to power a fuel cell, the only by-products are water and heat—no pollutants or greenhouse gases are produced. Even when fossil fuels are used to power a fuel cell, emissions are significantly reduced when compared with conventional fossil fueled generation technologies. In Connecticut, the annual average emission rates for electric generation facilities on the New England System is .25 lb/MWh for  NOx. By contrast, a stationary fuel cell operating on natural gas produces approximately 0.01 lb/MWh for  NOx.

 

Applications
 

Hydrogen fuel cells are cleaner and more efficient than traditional combustion-based engines and power plants. Hydrogen and fuel cells can also be used in mobile applications to power vehicles and mobile power packs.

The benefits of fuel cells are:

• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions

• High Reliability

• Flexibility in installation and operation

• Development of renewable energy resources

• Reduced demand for foreign oil

• Improved environmental quality
  
   

Energy Efficiency
 

Currently most internal combustion engines operate with an efficiency around 25%, while power plants achieve about 35% efficiency.  By contrast, a stationary fuel cell, when used in a combined heat and power system, can have an efficiency level of greater than 80%.

_ (Source : Connecticut Hydrogen Fuel Cell Coalition ) - Link


 

Hydrogen is Superior to Batteries
 

Hydrogen is superior to batteries for storing electricity, because over 50% of the electricity you start with is lost when transferred to a battery. OGEF’s system is far more efficient, because the electricity generated from geothermal heat on the ocean floor can be switched to produce hydrogen when the grid does not require the electricity. Recent breakthroughs in chemistry and physics have made the creation of hydrogen with electrolysis very economical  and free of greenhouse gases. Geothermal generation of electricity combined with the creation of hydrogen can provide a sustainable alternative to carbon fuels. Let’s stop burning dirty fuels.

-(Source : Ocean Geothermal Energy Foundation) - Link

Why the Industry is Moving Towards Hydrogen