Hydrogen Energy vs Nuclear, Fossil Fuels, Solar, Gasoline, & Other Energy Sources & Fuels

There’s some key differences between hydrogen energy and other energy sources and fuels.

In this guide, we outline what some of those differences might be.

 

Summary – Hydrogen Energy vs Nuclear, Fossil Fuels, Solar, Gasoline, & Other Energy Sources & Fuels

In the guide below, we’ve compared hydrogen energy to the different energy sources and fuels in three distinct categories:

– vs Other energy sources and fuels in general

– vs Nuclear, Fossil Fuels, & Solar, as these energy sources are more commonly used for electricity production

– vs Gasoline, as this fuel is more commonly used in vehicles and transport 

 

Let’s take a look at them …

 

Hydrogen vs Other Energy Sources & Fuels In General

A few general differences between hydrogen energy and other energy sources and fuels in general right now are:

– Hydrogen Is A Secondary Energy Source That Is Mostly Reliant On Primary Energy Sources

Hydrogen is not available to be extracted in nature like an energy source like coal is.

Hydrogen has to be produced first – usually from a hydrocarbon like natural gas 

In some cases, hydrogen might be produced from water (using electrolysis)

 

– Hydrogen Can Be Used In Fuel Cells

Something that might make hydrogen somewhat unique might be how it can be used in a fuel cell to produce electricity

 

– Range Of Other Uses

Hydrogen has a range of potential uses

Apart from being used in fuel cells, it can be used directly as a fuel in different types of transport, for heating, as a natural gas replacement in some instances, and even as a raw material in industry

Not all energy sources have this range of uses, or these specific uses

 

– Cost

The cost of hydrogen energy tends to be more expensive than other energy sources and fuels right now.

This is evident in the capital costs of fuel cells compared to other energy sources

 

– How Widely & How Much It’s Currently Used

Hydrogen is not as established, developed, or used on anywhere near the scale that many other energy sources and fuels are right now – especially fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil

 

– Other

Hydrogen as a gas or liquid has some unique traits/properties that present risks in terms of it’s storage, transportation and use

 

Hydrogen Energy vs Nuclear, Fossil Fuels, & Solar

Nuclear Energy vs Hydrogen Energy

– Range Of Uses

Nuclear energy has mainly been used for stationary electricity generation up until this point in time

Hydrogen energy on the other hand can be used for electricity generation, a fuel for transport, and more

 

Hydrogen Energy vs Fossil Fuels, & Solar

– Can Be Used To ‘Store’ Energy

Hydrogen can be used as a way to ‘store’ the surplus electricity produced by renewable energy i.e. excess energy

This can be done by using the surplus electricity from the electrolysis process, and ‘storing’ that electricity in the form of the hydrogen that is produced.

Using hydrogen to store energy might be an alternative to other storage options like batteries.

Hydrogen energy can ‘enable’ the capabilities of other energy sources in this way

 

Hydrogen Energy vs Gasoline

– Scale Of Use Of Gasoline vs Hydrogen Cars

Hydrogen fuel cell cars aren’t used on anywhere near the scale (in terms of total numbers) that gasoline vehicles are right now in many countries.

This stretches across to infrastructure such as refuelling stations too

 

– Cost To Run Gasoline Vehicles vs Hydrogen Vehicles

Gasoline internal combustion engine vehicles might be cheaper to run right now than hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

 

 

Sources

1. https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/hydrogen-clean-flexible-energy-carrier

2. Various ‘Better Meets Reality’ guides

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