Research Article

Hydrogen as energy-storage-medium and fuel

A strong partner of renewable energies

German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (DWV), Berlin, Germany

^⁎ e-mail: toepler@h2de.de

Abstract

This contribution addresses the future energy situation with the expected reduction of fossil primary energy supply and increasing market segments by renewable energies within the next decades. The potential of renewable energies to cover the energy demand is described as well as the necessity of energy storage systems (especially hydrogen) to compensate the fluctuations of primary energy sources. Furthermore the increasing use of renewable vehicle fuels is investigated with special focus on hydrogen in short and long-term considerations. As a result the paper will show an energy supply gap between decreasing fossil energies and increasing renewable energies which can only be bridged by a more efficient general use of energy. Hydrogen will be proven as best synthetic fuel by “well-to-wheel analysis” both with respect to energy efficiency, to environmental analysis as well as to customer satisfaction.