Tomorrow's energy, hydrogen fuel cell: Clean and efficient way of cogeneration

It's no secret that fossil fuel supplies are dwindling and will eventually be depleted within a few decades. At the same time, fossil fuel consumption continues to increase leaving in its wake destructive cumulative effects, which began during the industrial revolution. Such ever-increasing demand could place significant strain on the current energy infrastructure and potentially damage the world environment and people's health with over 900,000 deaths resulting each, year, according to the World Bank. Utilisation on conventional energy will course environment pollution such as major environmental accidents, water pollution, maritime pollution, land use and sitting impact, radiation and radioactivity, solid waste disposal, hazardous air pollutants, ambient air quality (CO, CO2, SOx, NOx effluent gas emissions), acid rain, stratospheric ozone depletion, and global warming. Scientists, governments, and industries are witnessing the long-term consequences of energy consumption and foresee catastrophic outcomes if alternative methods of energy production are not developed and utilized to meet the needs of our global economy. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. Attention on hydrogen fuel cells is increasing as the range of potential commercial applications expands, with more than 3800 fuel cell systems being installed and operated worldwide, according to a new report by online resource, Fuel Cell Today. These systems attain high theoretical efficiencies in the range of 43.7-70.4%, with an additional 20% as heat recovery, and operating at carbon-free conditions between 50°C and 900°C. In this paper, a discussion is made upon the benefits obtained from the few potential applications and the future of such devices with a particular, attention being given to design and operation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs). Much attention is focused on the materials used for the electrolytes, electrodes and associated catalyst. A vital matter is the need for a viable means of hydrogen fuel storage. It is emphasised that hydrogen fuel cells will be a significant contributor within a portfolio of energy sources in the coming 10 to 20 years with a growth forecast of 85 million Euros in 2002, 305 million Euros in 2005 and 4.35 billion Euros in 2010.