Hydrogen can be used to provide electricity and heat
either through use in a fuel cell or through combustion. A
fuel cell is a device similar to a continuously recharged
battery, which generates electricity by combining hydrogen
with oxygen from the air. The only by-product of this
process is water. Therefore, as it is possible to produce
hydrogen from biomass and wastes and by the electrolysis of
water, using electricity from renewable energy, hydrogen
has significant potential as the basis of an energy system
with low carbon dioxide emissions through use as a fuel for
road transport, heat and power generation and for energy
storage.
The Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (
FREDS)
has established a sub-group to examine the potential for
hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and identify possible
opportunities for Scotland within this sector. This group
is scheduled to report in January 2005.