Abstract
The energy carrier hydrogen is a key facilitator of sustainable energy and can contribute significantly to attaining sustainability and sustainable development. As easily accessible fossil fuel supplies become increasingly scarce and environmental concerns escalate, hydrogen energy is likely to become an increasingly important. Then, hydrogen and electricity are expected to be the two dominant energy carriers for the provision of end-use services, in a hydrogen economy. A hydrogen economy involves many types of hydrogen energy systems, which together allow greater use of renewable energy resources.
Routes to hydrogen production are possible from various energy sources, including renewable and non-renewable energy sources. In fact, numerous commercial and pre-commercial processes exist for producing hydrogen from various fossil fuels as well as non-fossil fuel sources like solar energy, wind energy, bioenergy energy and various other types of renewable in addition to nuclear energy. Renewable energy options are usually considered more sustainable. Furthermore, technologies exist and are undergoing development for the storage, transport, distribution and utilization of hydrogen, especially in the transportation and energy utility sectors.
In this presentation, the role of hydrogen as an energy carrier and facilitator of sustainable energy is described and illustrated, and hydrogen energy systems that can contribute to a sustainable world are reviewed and discussed.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Marc A. Rosen is a Professor at Ontario Tech University (formally University of Ontario Institute of Technology) in Oshawa, Canada, where he served as founding Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. Dr. Rosen was President of the Engineering Institute of Canada and of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering. A registered Professional Engineer in Ontario, he serves as Editor-in-Chief of several journals and was a Director of Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation. With over 60 research grants and contracts and 900 publications, Dr. Rosen is active in sustainable energy, environmental impact, and energy technology (including hydrogen energy, renewable energy and efficiency). Much of his research has been carried out for industry, and he has written numerous books. Dr. Rosen has worked for such organizations as Imatra Power Company in Finland, Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago, and the Institute for Hydrogen Systems near Toronto. Dr. Rosen has received numerous awards and honors, and is a fellow of several societies and organizations, including the Royal Society of Canada.