Welcome to Hydrogen Fuel Cell Systems

hydrogen energy  -  hydrogen fuel cells  -  hydrogen applications

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Hydrogen is a carrier of energy, just like electricity, and requires a fuel source like oil, nuclear power, or energy from renewable resources to power its generation.

Hydrogen energy itself is seen as a clean resource that can be stored in fuel cells and used in many applications but the fuel used to power its generation can be renewable or non-renewable. Thus there are two kinds of hydrogen: 'green hydrogen' and 'black hydrogen'.

Ballard Power, after purchasing an expired GE patent, has been leading the fuel cell industry and Vancouver, Canada, where Ballard is based, has become home to over 20 companies in the hydrogen and fuel cell industry.

Currently there are applications where the hydrogen fuel cell is in use as well as a number of field trials involving cars and trucks underway around the world. At Globe 2004, a biennial conference earthSOS attended this year, there were multiple speakers from the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell industries in Vancouver.

 The 2010 Winter Olympics are being held in Vancouver and Whistler and this event is a goal for many companies to team up and show the world where the Hydrogen Fuel Cell industry is. It was mentioned during the conference that there will be an Olympic Hydrogen fuel cell powered transit system available that has 7 refueling stations around the lower mainland of BC. This "Hydrogen Highway" as some are calling it, is endeavouring to span farther down the West Coast as well. It was also mentioned that within a few years after the 2010 Winter Olympics we can expect to see the Hydrogen fuel cell powered car really enter the market.

Fuel Cells Canada

This is a non-profit, national industry association that aims to accelerate Canada's world-leading fuel cell and hydrogen industry.
url: www.fuelcellscanada.ca

U.S. Fuel Cells Council

An industry association dedicated to fostering the commercialization of fuel cells in the United States. USFCC members include the world's leading fuel cell developers, manufacturers, suppliers and customers.
url: www.usfcc.com

National Research Council of Canada

The NRC fuel cell program, from Canada's premier organization for research and development.
url: www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/randd/areas/fuelcells

David Suzuki Foundation

The eminent David Suzuki voices his thoughts regarding hydrogen's future on his weekly column, Science Matters
url: www.davidsuzuki.org/about_us/dr_david_suzuki/article_archives/weekly05070401.asp

COMMONLY USED TERMS PERTAINING TO HYDROGEN FUEL CELL ENERGY

Green Hydrogen - Hydrogen manufacturing using renewable resources such as solar and wind generated electricity.

Black Hydrogen - Hydrogen manufacturing that uses non-renewable resources for the source of energy like nuclear and oil.

Fuel Cell - a device for splitting the hydrogen atom in to positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons for the purpose of making electricity

Hydrogen - Elemental symbol (H), colourless, odourless, flammable, atomic weight of 1 making it the lightest element and usually appears in a gaseous state