
Fuel Cells Save Money, Fuel and Mother Earth
This article is a continuation of our series about various topics in renewable energy.
A fuel cell is an energy conversion device that produces electricity from external sources. Energy is created when two elements with opposite properties are placed in a fuel cell and react together. The energy created will continuously flow until there is nothing more to react. Fuel cells generate clean energy. The only waste product is water vapor. With today’s changing economy and increasing fossil fuel prices, many people are looking for alternatives. For these reasons, the technology on hydrogen fuel cell has developed. Fuel cell technology provides a wide array of important benefits and advantages including the following:
Fuel Cells are Reliable
Fuel cell technologies are more reliable as compared to traditional combustion engines. Researchers say that a technology such as this has shown reliabilities that can be applied to any kind of engine. With 100% reliability, it has proven to be more appropriate for the most demanding applications.
Fuel Cells Raised Quality Power
Fuel cell technologies provide a high quality of DC power, perfectly compatible to any kinds of electrical applications, specifically like electronics used inside the hospitals. By using fuel cells as the distribution product in energy networks, brown outs, black outs and power fluctuations can now be lessened or better, completely avoided.
Fuel Cells are Clean
Fuel cells technologies only produce water that comes from fueling hydrogen into the system. Regardless if it is powered by high-priced fossil fuels, polluting emissions produced less compared to other conventional technologies.
Fuel Cells are Vibration Free
Without the presence of moving parts, fuel cells are vibration free and are silent as night. Unlike traditional engine technologies that create sound / noise, fuel cells are quieter and no vibration at all even if it is made up of compressors, pumps and other parts.
Fuel Cells Cost
Although fuel cells are more expensive than fossil fuels, it is predicted that in the near future, fuel cell power will be less expensive and more efficient. The cost is an enticing advantage for the future.
The above are just some of the benefits of hydrogen fuel cell technologies. With this generation, a shift in usage can determine better effects than other traditional combustion engines.
On the other hand, there are also several disadvantages such as the fact that fuel cells actually lose energy such that it cost more to produce energy. Other concerns include the tricky issues of finding feasible ways to produce, ship, and distribute hydrogen (used to fuel the fuel cell). And lastly, fuel cells are bulkier and bigger as compared to other energy sources.
Bottom line and truth remains that using hydrogen fuel cells as an alternative fuel is in the long run, a positive effect on the environment. The only emission is water vapor, a lot environment-friendly than the toxic elements released into the air by burning fossil fuels and gasoline burning cars. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Hydrogen as an alternative fuel has the most promise over other alternative fuels.
