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Introduction to Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies and Their Contribution to a Sustainable Energy Future

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Book cover Global Change, Energy Issues and Regulation Policies

Part of the book series: Integrated Science & Technology Program ((ISTP,volume 2))

Abstract

Research and development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are motivated by the same drivers as for other new energy production/conversion/storage options, in particular the increase in greenhouse gas emissions and in sea and land mass temperatures, and peaking of oil production capacity and the technical difficulties and safety issues associated with extracting oil from offshore deep drilling below the seabed, which together lead towards a global requirement for use of lower fossil carbon energy sources. In this context, this chapter outlines actual and potential roles for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. It provides a short historical perspective of fuel cells and describes fuel cell types and their applications, in particular automotive and stationary fuel cell uses. Directions in fuel cell materials research on electrocatalysts and their supports and electrolyte membranes are described in a final section.

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Abbreviations

AFC:

Alkaline fuel cell

CO:

Carbon monoxide

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide

DLR:

Deutsche Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (German Aerospace Centre)

e-:

Symbol of electron

EU:

European Union

EUCAR:

European Council for Automotive R&D

FCHV:

Fuel cell hydrogen vehicle

FCV:

Fuel cell vehicle

Fe/N/C:

Iron, nitrogen, carbon catalyst

H+:

Proton (hydrogen nucleus)

H2 :

Hydrogen molecule

HOPG:

Highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

Hyfleet CUTE:

This is a European project comparing the advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) buses with fuel cell buses. CUTE stands for Clean Urban Transport for Europe and the goal of the project is to test and demonstrate hydrogen buses in 10 different cities in Europe, Asia, and Australia to reduce CO2 emissions and move away from fossil fuels.

IPCC:

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

IPHE:

International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy.

kW:

Kilowatt (SI power unit)

mb/d:

Million barrels per day

MCFC:

Molten carbonate fuel cell

MEA:

Membrane electrode assembly

OPEC:

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

PAFC:

Phosphoric acid fuel cell

PCFC:

Proton ceramic fuel cell

PEM:

Polymer electrolyte membrane

PEMFC:

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells, also known as polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC)

PFSA:

Perfluorosulfonic acid

Pt/M:

Alloy of platinium with a metal (M)

Pt:

Symbol of platinum

PURE:

Promoting Unst Renewable Energy (Unst is one of the North Isles of the Shetland Islands, Scotland)

SI:

Système International d’unités (International System of units)

SOFC:

Solid oxide fuel cell

WHFS:

Worldwide hydrogen fueling stations

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Acknowledgments

The author thanks Surya Subianto for his assistance with the graphics of this chapter. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2010-2013) under the call ENERGY-2010-10.2-1: Future Emerging Technologies for Energy Applications (FET) under contract 256821 QuasiDry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier, UMR CNRS 5253, Université Montpellier 2, 34095, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France

    Deborah J. Jones

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  1. Deborah J. Jones
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Correspondence to Deborah J. Jones .

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  1. Pprime/ENSMA, BP 40109, Chasseneuil Cedex, 86961, France

    Jean Bernard Saulnier

  2. , Campus do UniCEUB, University Center of Brasilia, SEPN 707/907, Brasilia, DF, 70790-075, Brazil

    Marcelo D. Varella

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Jones, D.J. (2013). Introduction to Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies and Their Contribution to a Sustainable Energy Future. In: Saulnier, J., Varella, M. (eds) Global Change, Energy Issues and Regulation Policies. Integrated Science & Technology Program, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6661-7_8

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