Originally published July 5 2005
Before they are replaced, fossil fuels may feed hydrogen power revolution
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Hydrogen fuel cells are poised to eventually replace fossil fuels, but researchers at the University of Houston and elsewhere say fossil fuels may start this process by helping harness hydrogen as a fuel source.
Fuel cells could be providing inexpensive electricity to businesses and even homes by 2010, but at least initially they won't be fueled by hydrogen extracted from water.
Instead, researchers and manufacturers are rapidly developing fuel cells designed to use hydrogen found in substances that the technology is supposed to carry the country away from: fossil fuels.
Researchers at the University of Houston and elsewhere are leading the hydrocarbon charge by finding ways for solid-oxide fuel cells --- which operate at a blistering 2,000 degrees --- to run at 900 degrees or lower.
"We expect that to reduce the cost significantly," said Alex Ignatiev of the Texas Center for Superconductivity and Advanced Materials at the UH campus, where he and his team of researchers are developing "cool" solid-oxide fuel cell technology.
Ignatiev said it's also possible to use fossil fuels such as natural gas directly with solid-oxide fuel cells, rather than through a catalyst or reformer where the hydrogen is extracted.
Fuel cells are considered the world's future energy source as they can efficiently and cleanly produce electricity combining hydrogen, the most common element in the universe, with oxygen.
Ignatiev said he believes in five years fuel cell products using the technology will start to become available, including units the size of a two-drawer filing cabinet that are capable of powering a standard home.
And Ignatiev also believes the units, once mass-produced, will cost about $5,000 and create electricity at nearly twice the efficiency and at half the price as a local utility.
Automakers' hopes Automakers are scrambling to make fuel-cell-powered cars, but are focused on a technology called proton exchange membrane that is not designed to work with fossil fuels and will instead require a massive infrastructure of hydrogen refueling stations.
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