The Changing Atmosphere and the Role of Hydrogen

Abstract

“Changing Atmosphere – Implications for Global Security”, Toronto 1988, attracted international attention to the dangers of the greenhouse effect. It focused attention on the need for cleaner primary energy sources and energy carriers. This implies not only greater efficiency and conservation but also a move away from high carbon content fuels. There will be increasing pressure on decision makers to take appropriate action in complex and difficult matters that will have profound political, social and economic implications.

Hydrogen has an important role as an energy source in the short, medium and long term. Early applications of hydrogen include the enrichment of hydrogen-deficient oils and solid fuels, its role in the replacement of gasoline in urban vehicles, its use as an energy-storage medium for load-levelling, and for the transportation of large quantities of energy when other means are not available. In the long term it could become a principal world energy currency. In this role it is compatible with and complementary to electricity.