The Hydrogen economy
The hydrogen economy is a potential way of providing energy that does not contribute to global warming. Hydrogen combined with oxygen produces energy in particular for batteries and fuel cells.
Hydrogen is one of two natural elements that combine to make water. Hydrogen is not an energy source, but an energy carrier because it takes a great deal of energy to extract it from water. Therefore it is useful as a compact energy source in fuel cells and batteries.
The hydrogen economy is a proposal for the distribution of energy by using hydrogen. Hydrogen (H2) gives off energy when it is combined with oxygen, but the hydrogen itself has to first be produced, which requires more energy than is released when it is used as a fuel. To use hydrogen as a fuel, it first has to be generated by electrolysis of water or another method. A reduction in carbon dioxide emission would only be achieved if the energy used to split the water is obtained from non carbon-based sources.