Frequently Asked Questions

Information supplied in part by H-TEC, Fuel Cells 2000 and American Hydrogen Association.

What is a fuel cell?

• A source of energy that could dramatically reduce both pollution and the amount of oil imports.
• A power supply that is so clean, quiet and safe it could be located in your house.
• A device with no moving parts that could supply electricity to everything from energy utilities, to a car, to a computer.

What are the benefits of fuel cells?

• Reduction in reliance on foreign oil imports.
• Increase in number of skilled job openings.
• Fuel cells create energy without emitting pollution. A fuel cell's by-products are heat and water. The U.S Department of Energy estimates that if just 10 percent of vehicles were run by fuel cells, air pollution would be cut by one million tons per year.
• Fuel cells are practically silent - especially compared to noisy generators.
• There are no moving parts to wear out.
• Fuel cells use hydrogen, which is non-toxic, efficient, versatile and renewable. Hydrogen can be mass-produced in a number of ways, such as capturing and reforming waste gases at landfills and wastewater treatment plants.
• Fuel cells are much more efficient than other forms of power.

What is the history of fuel cell technology?

Fuel cell technology is not new. If began when Hydrogen was discovered in 1776 by Henry Cavendish, when he dissolved metals into dilute acids. The first fuel cell was invented in 1839 by Sir William Grove. Since then, fuel cells have been part of the space shuttles, both as a power and water source. Today, fuel cell technology is on the verge of becoming part of the mass market, in cars, homes and hand-held devices.

How does a fuel cell work?

In a fuel cell, chemical energy (in the form of hydrogen and oxygen) is converted directly (without combustion) into electrical energy. A fuel cell consists of a cathode, an electrode and an anode. Hydrogen is fed in to the anode, where it is split into protons and electrons. The protons and electrons take different routes to the cathode. The protons move through the electrode to the cathode, while the electrons pass around the fuel cell to get to the cathode. This movement creates usable electrical energy. At the other side, the hydrogen protons and electrons combine with oxygen, forming water.

How does an electrolyzer work?

Electrolyzers are one way of extracting hydrogen from water. The process is basically the opposite of how a fuel cell works. An electrolyzer is made up of an anode, electrochemical cell and a cathode. Water and voltage is applied to the anode, which splits the water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen passes through the electrochemical cell to the cathode, while the oxygen travels around the cell. From there, the hydrogen and oxygen gases can be captured and stored. When electricity is required, the gases can be pulled from storage and routed through a fuel cell.

How safe are fuel cells?

As fuel cells use hydrogen, there have been many myths about its safety. The Hindenburg explosion is one incident that caused many to believe hydrogen was dangerous. However, recent studies have shown that the Hindenburg tragedy was due to the type of material used in its construction, rather than the hydrogen it held inside. 

The D.O.E. has also performed safety tests on the storage on hydrogen in fuel cell vehicles and found that hydrogen storage is safer than gasoline storage.

It is true that hydrogen is very flammable, but storage tanks are study and leaks quickly rise and evaporate. If ignited, hydrogen burns quickly but is unlikely to explode. Plus, ignited hydrogen is not as hot or as toxic as gasoline fires.

And lastly, a hydrogen spill cannot pollute the environment like a large oil spill would. Again, in a hydrogen spill, the gas would quickly rise and evaporate in the air.

How much do fuel cells cost?

Currently, companies offer fuel cell power plants for approximately $3,000 per kilowatt. Studies have estimated that when the cost gets down to $1,500 per kilowatt, consumers in the mass market will be ready to switch over.

Fuel cell cars are still more expensive than combustion engine cars, but manufacturers are researching ways to bring the price down to be comparable. DaimlerChrysler has said they were have an economical fuel cell car on the market by 2004.

In some remote areas where there are no power lines, it may be more economical for people to use fuel cells, rather than incur the cost of setting up the infrastructure for traditional power. Fuel cells could be perfect for cabins and other remote settings.

Why aren't fuel cells being widely used right now?

High cost is the main challenge for fuel cells at this time. There is still much research that is going on and there is not a mass demand at this time. When research slows down and demand increases, the price will come down.

What are some potential fuel cell applications?

Transportation - energy is continuous, highly efficient and powerful.

Utility companies - currently only one-third of energy generated at utilities reaches consumers due to low efficiency. Using fuel cells can increase efficiencies up to 60 percent, while decreasing pollution.

Individual home utility and heating applications - fuel cells can be placed on site.

Rural energy needs - Perfect for places where there are no existing power grids, where power is often unreliable or places that are not accessible to power lines.

Portable devices - Fuel cells can replace batteries in computers, cell phones, CD players, etc.

What is being done to promote fuel cell development usage?

At least five U.S. Departments have fuel cell research and development programs, spending a total of $100 million per year. It includes the DOE, which researches stationary and transportation applications; DOT, which runs a fuel cell bus research program; the Commerce Department, which supports fuel cells in premium power applications; and the Environmental Protection Agency, which has a program to facilitate the use of fuel cells at landfills and waste treatment plants. There is also a Climate Change Fuel Cell program that provides grants of $1,000 per kilowatt to purchasers of fuel cell power plants.

Other countries are actively promoting fuel cell research and development with tax credits, low-interest loans and grants. Toyota, Daimler-Benz and Ballard are also making large investments and developments in the fuel cell industry.

Who is involved in this technology now?

Automotive companies such as DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagon.

Energy companies such as BP, Chevron-Texaco, Exxon-Mobil and Shell.

Government Entities such as U.S. D.O.E., U.S. D.O.T., California Air Resources and California Energy Commission.

What does Solar Hydrogen Systems do?

Solar Hydrogen Systems is a family-owned, Alaska-based business. We are a distributor of H-TEC educational and industrial fuel cell products for North America. 

What is a solar hydrogen system?

A solar hydrogen system is a completely renewable, self-sustaining energy system. It uses the electrolysis and fuel cell processes described above, and also incorporates the use of renewable power, such as sunlight, wind or water to power the processes.

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