Only a very small percentage of the energy we produce comes from renewable and non-polluting sources. Gasoline and diesel fuel account for 97 per cent of all transportation fuel consumed; alternative fuels such as propane, natural gas, and ethanol, make up the rest. But things are changing. In 2002, the Ontario Legislative Committee recommended that Ontario invest more in developing fuel cells and wind energy, two significant areas in the alternative energy field.
Fuel cells are similar to batteries, except that while batteries run down and become depleted, fuel cells can be continually replenished with fuel; they also provide a continuous supply of electric power. They can also be scaled down to power a cell phone, or scaled up to power a town, without significantly changing the design. In theory, the market for fuel cells could be virtually unlimited.
A hydrogen fuel cell is an electrochemical device that produces electricity from a combined chemical reaction and electrical charge transport that occurs within the fuel cell. When the hydrogen fuel is supplied, the hydrogen reacts with oxygen to produce electricity, water, and some heat. Greenhouse gas emissions are almost completely eliminated.
Earlier this year, Purolator Courier Ltd. introduced ten hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and one hydrogen fuel cell HEV into its Toronto delivery fleet. The latter uses a fuel cell, combined with a battery electric propulsion system designed by Hydrogenics Corporation. Hydrogenics is a, co-founded by two U of T engineers, Pierre Rivard and Joseph Cargnelli. The fleet is fueled with hydrogen generated from water using power from the wind turbine at the Canadian National Exhibition.
The HEVs are expected to eliminate up to half, and the fuel cell HEVs up to 100 per cent, of greenhouse gases currently emitted conventionally-powered delivery vehicles. If the vehicles live up to their expectations, Purolator expects to introduce more HEVs to their fleet.
As part of the Hydrogen Village program, U of T Mississauga will be installing another breed of fuel cell to provide electrical power to one of its student residences later this year. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are able to chemically convert a wide variety of fuels with high efficiency (they can be up to twice as efficient as engines currently in use) and are also able to use currently available fossil fuels and natural gas, thus reducing operating costs. An additional benefit of these fuel cells is that they produce heat as a by-product, which can be used for heating. Not only will this provide hot shower water, space heating, and power for computers and TVs, it also has environmental benefits. Unlike in the burning of natural gas, no sulphur dioxides or nitrous oxides are produced.
Although these alternative fuels clearly have benefits to the environment and the consumer, Hydrogen Villiage's Ry Smith predicts we will not see hydrogen-powered personal vehicles in regular use any time soon. However, he does speculate that we may see cell phones fitted with hydrogen-powered batteries and houses with SOFCs within a few years. It all depends on the market, he says. The technology is there, now consumers have to be willing to give it a chance.
Most of the reluctance to use these fuels is due to the relatively high cost of fuel cells. As with any technology, the price is higher in order to recover the cost of development, but with the advances in manufacturing technology, the cost should go down.
Another reservation consumers have about the hydrogen fuels is its perceived danger. Hydrogen is combustible and is packed in highly pressurized containers, and the fear is that fuel tank storage facilities or hydrogen tanks in cars may ignite or explode. Although Smith does not deny that some danger exists, he says it is comparable to other fuels currently in use. Ultimately, though, the rising price of oil may serve to bring these technologies ever closer to profitability.