A smoggy Los Angeles morning.
There are many potential impacts on our society if hydrogen were introduced as a new energy. If it could successfully be integrated pollution could be reduced, our dependence on foreign oil could be removed, and a new high technology industry could emerge. however, it is entirely possible that hydrogen will take a very long time to become a part of our lives because of public opinion and cost factors.
Pollution
The combustion of fossil fuels effects our environment no matter how you look at it. We are pouring tons of gases into the atmosphere that might have unknown consequences in the future. If we were to remove this burden it would make the world better. Cities in particular would greatly benefit. Without smog and particulate matter some of the threats of living there are reduced. The constant exposure to car emissions and dealing with respiratory diseases is and will only become a bigger problem.
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A smoggy Los Angeles morning. |
Even if hydrogen is implemented our whole energy system needs to be rebuilt, slowly, to minimize the use of fossil fuel combustion. This will take along time, but it is certainly feasible.
Independence
As is stands we pour billions of dollars into a very volatile region of the world. The Middle East may fuel our cars, but with of money these countries create large trade imbalances. If we just increased the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines less money would be leaving our country. But the potential is huge for domestic technology if all the energy sources came from the U.S. This would create many jobs, think of the whole process. New power plants will be needed, new technology will need to be developed and manufactured, and a lot of the money could stay here.
Also, by depending on other countries for our energy, our very way of life rests in their hands. Consider the fuel crisis in the 70's, if they wanted our supply could be cut off. Availability of energy and quality of living are directly tied together, and without energy our standards would go down. If we would like to keep on living in such great comfort we might want to secure our future.
Even on a local scale hydrogen has the potential to create energy freedom. Analogies are being drawn between the internet and the hydrogen economy. Instead of having information independence, small groups and individuals could rely on themselves to create their on electricity. This potentially could lower prices by creating competition and help drive the push towards hydrogen. If a group of people want to change they could make it happen independently from the electric grid. Iceland is currently trying to change their entire transportation system to hydrogen. They hope to serve as a model for how the change could be made, and in the future they hope to export the extra fuel.
Safety
Hydrogen is not something considered often by the average person. Hydrogen is used by rockets as fuel and was in the Hindenburg when it burned. In recognition some people probably associate hydrogen with thermonuclear weapons. If we are going to use this as a fuel the public needs to be made aware.
Hydrogen, like any fuel, can be dangerous. However, there are many aspects hydrogen that make it very different from other fuels, some good some not. First, it is extremely light. If it were to escape in an accident it is very likely that it would disperse to the surroundings very quickly. So unlike gasoline it would not sit under a damaged car. Another difference is it burns very fast. The flame spreads through it at a very high speed, which makes it very hard to explode. It is flammable over a very large range of concentrations unlike many fossil fuels. Hydrogen can burn in air with concentrations between 4% and 74%, while gasoline is flammable with concentrations of 1.5% to 7.6%.
Some other properties of hydrogen need to be considered too. The flame is nearly invisible in daylight, which could be a problem if there was an accident. Hydrogen has no smell, but if there is serious problems with leakage, a scent could be added just like what is done for natural gas. If liquid hydrogen is being used it will be very cold and could burn people who touch it.
It is worth mentioning the Hindenburg since it is one of the biggest events associated with hydrogen gas. This disaster is certainly one of a kind since it made a large impact upon the public, everyone knows about it. However, new studies have shown that the fire was not caused by the hydrogen at all. The paint on the craft was made with material similar to aluminum powder and iron oxide. These materials are essentially the components of the space shuttle's solid rocket booster. The Hindenburg did not explode, but burned over 30 seconds. Also, many people died from falling out of the craft, and not from the fire.
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Hindenburg burning while trying to land in May 1937 |
Overall hydrogen would probably not cause any additional problems over gasoline. Each has advantages and disadvantages, but hydrogen has a great potential. All fuels need to be respected for what they are, and treated in the correct manner. Even when cars were first introduced 100 years ago electric power was more popular because it seemed safer than sitting on a tank of combustible fuel. However, since internal combustion was much better it became the dominant source. Perhaps this could happen with hydrogen.