Why Hydrogen
The Problem
As the world transitions to electric power, supplied by renewable energy, the storage and distribution of electricity for off-grid use will be a major challenge.
In recent years, lithium batteries have secured an important role in the energy infrastructure, but on their own, they do not offer a scalable or sustainable solution. Batteries suffer from mass-compounding in heavy vehicles: as batteries get bigger and heavier, more energy is used simply to move the additional weight of the battery. In addition, battery manufacturing involves mining and refining rare metals, which are subject to fragile supply chains. This is heaping further pollution on our jaded planet.
Hydrogen is nature’s battery, the lightest and most plentiful element in the Universe, providing endlessly recyclable, scalable energy storage, to complement green electricity made with wind, waves, and solar energy.
The amazing thing about hydrogen is that when it is used to make electricity, it simply combines with oxygen to make water, and is ready to be used again. Long after we have exhausted every resource from below the Earth’s crust, hydrogen will remain the most abundant element in the Universe…
So, don’t believe those who suggest Batteries vs Hydrogen is VHS/Betamax II - its not. The future storage of electricity will be multi-facetted, and while batteries will certainly continue to play an important role, if we are to save our planet, we must embrace hydrogen now…
The Solution
As we experience a revolution in the production, storage and use of electricity, the opportunities for hydrogen are in applications where either payload (e.g. trucks, ships) or power-to-weight (e.g. high-performance cars, aircraft) are the critical factor. In such cases, the high weight and limited energy density of batteries mean battery-only powertrains involve unacceptable compromises.
With governments around the world now committing vast resources to the hydrogen economy, the Hydrogen Council is forecasting that by 2050, hydrogen will power:
• More than 400 million passenger cars worldwide
• Providing 18% of the world's total energy needs...
• Up to 20 million trucks and 5 million buses
• And create 30 million jobs globally
“Our pipeline is focussed on developing a family of powertrain solutions to revolutionise the automotive, aerospace, marine and distributed power industries”
– VIRITECH IS COMMITTED TO THIS REVOLUTION
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