HYDROGEN – ITS PROSPECTS AS A CLEAN ENERGY OPTION OF 21st CENTURY

HYDROGEN – ITS PROSPECTS AS A CLEAN ENERGY OPTION OF 21st  CENTURY

ABSTRACT

    A major portion of the world’s energy needs is obtained through fossil fuels. Coal provides a dominant portion of the electrical energy production the world over and specially in India. However the future of fossil fuels and particularly coal is clouded by the environmental threat posed by green house gas effect caused by release of green house gases such as CO¬2, SO2, and NOx. Several alternate technologies are under development for containing green house gas emissions, and one such promising technology is the Hydrogen energy. Hydrogen holds the potential to provide a clean, reliable and economical source of energy for meeting the growing energy needs for India in future.

    The present paper is an attempt to review the technological options being pursued for production and storage of hydrogen energy. Also this paper presents the road for key areas of research and development of hydrogen energy in a phased manner.