How much do you really know about the magic molecule being touted as the solution
to the current energy crisis…

His critics have recently accused Boris Johnson of waving a magic wand as he attempts to solve the current energy crisis. The Prime Minister and his cabinet have been championing hydrogen as a viable alternative to fossil fuels like oil, saying it’s the right path to take. As a result, hydrogen power is now one of the main planks of the government’s energy strategy. But is this all just gas or is there any substance to the claims?
Before examining the pros and cons of hydrogen as an alternative fuel source, it’s worth looking at the stuff itself. Hydrogen is present in the universe in vast quantities. It’s in the sun and many stars. Here on earth, it can be found in water and hydrocarbons like natural gas. It is the simplest molecule, composed of two individual hydrogen atoms joined together. Atoms are building blocks of all matter, hence the old science joke about never trusting atoms because they make up everything.

Abundant and renewable
Hydrogen (symbol H) occupies pride of place in the top left-hand corner of the Periodic Table – a chart that contains all the known gases and metals. Incidentally, this remarkable intellectual achievement celebrated its 150th birthday a few years ago.
An Englishman, Henry Cavendish, is credited with the discovery of hydrogen. Those NBVM readers of a classical bent will know that the word derives from the Greek for “water-producing”; and, of course, water consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom – hence H²O.
What are the merits and what are the drawbacks of this “magic ingredient”? First, it’s widely available and is renewable, unlike fossil fuels. Also, its green credentials are top-class, because it’s a clean fuel and does not give off harmful emissions. When used to power cars and buses, the only byproduct is water. It’s odourless and non-toxic to humans or animals. Compared with oil and coal, hydrogen is very environmentally friendly.
So why hasn’t it been adopted on a bigger scale? The trouble is that extracting it is difficult and expensive. Another problem is storage: it’s not easy to handle. It has to be transported under high pressure as a gas or at very low temperatures in liquid form. In addition, because it so flammable, it is highly dangerous.
Hydrogen definitely has the potential to be one solution to the energy situation, but there are still plenty of obstacles in the way.
The UK government, along with those other countries who have invested heavily in hydrogen as the fuel of the future, will be hoping these obstacles can be overcome.

by Brian MacReamoinn