What is hydrogen?
Hydrogen is the universe's most common element. As a fuel, it provides benefits to energy security, the environment and economic growth.
Invisible, odourless, and non-toxic, hydrogen has been used safely for many decades in a wide range of applications, including in the food, metal, glass and chemical industries. The global hydrogen industry is well established and produces more than 50 million tonnes of hydrogen per year.
Made of one proton and one electron, hydrogen does not occur in a naturally free state but is bonded to other elements. For example, when combined with oxygen, it forms water - H20.
Hydrogen is not a source of energy. It is an energy carrier and must be produced before it can be used as a fuel. There are many ways to produce hydrogen, including reformation of natural gas or electrolysis using hydroelectricity, solar, wind and nuclear power. With supplies of many other fuels diminishing, hydrogen will play an important role in extending the life of fossil fuels and optimizing renewable energy sources.
Hydrogen is an excellent fuel for many reasons. Hydrogen is:
- carbon-free
- exceptionally clean
- lighter than air
- odourless
- non-toxic
- safe to produce, store and transport
- can be stored in large amounts
- can be produced from a variety of resources
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Canada currently produces most of its hydrogen in the chemical and refining industries. It also produces roughly 200,000 tonnes of waste hydrogen every year (equivalent to about 800 million litres of gasoline).
- Hydrogen is used safely in a wide range of applications, including in the food, metal, glass and chemical industries. The global hydrogen industry produces 50 million tonnes of hydrogen per year.
- At 1000 kg/day capacity, Whistler's new hydrogen refueling station will be the world's largest for transportation applications and will support BC Transit's fleet of 20 fuel cell electric buses.
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