Hydrogen economy for a sustainable development: state-of-the-art and technological perspectives

You are here: Homepage > Search

Hydrogen economy for a sustainable development: state-of-the-art and technological perspectives

Conte, M. / Iacobazzi, A. / Ronchetti, M. / Vellone, R.

Sustainable energy is becoming of increasing concern world-wide. The rapid growth of global climate changes along with the fear of energy supply shortage is creating a large consensus about the potential benefits of a hydrogen economy coming from renewable energy sources. The interesting perspectives are over-shadowed by uncertainties about the development of key technologies, such as renewable energy sources, advanced production processes, fuel cells, metal hydrides, nanostructures, standards and codes, and so on. The availability of critical technologies can create a base for the start of the hydrogen economy, as a fuel and energy carrier alternative to the current fossil resources. This paper explores the rationale for such a revolution in the energy sector, describes the state-of-the-art of major related technologies (fuel cell, storage systems, fuel cell vehicles) and current niche applications, and sketches scientific and technological challenges and recommendations for research and development (R&D) initiatives to accelerate the pace for the widespread introduction of a hydrogen economy.