1OVERVIEW OF HYDROGEN AND FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES

Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are cross-cutting technologies. They interact with many research areas and require knowledge from many engineering branches. Hydrogen technologies have had an unsteady past but the new development and the worldwide growing energy demand will for sure require all facets of any energy technology including those of hydrogen and fuel cell related technologies. Hydrogen is most versatile in its production, transportation and end use. This is indicated by the broad range of technologies shown in this report. Acceptable storage technologies for pressurised and liquefied hydrogen are available. The fuel cell development progressed considerably the last decade. The targets for prices and lifetime will be met earlier than expected. For bridging to the future conventional combustion engines might be operated already today on hydrogen. However, the pressure and temperature levels involved with some new hydrogen technologies in the hands of private users, still pose some problems to be resolved. As hydrogen provides an efficient energy storage it will support the shift towards renewable energies and it will make the energy market more decentralised and flexible. Most of the presented technology will come closer to the end user, what will help to promote the acceptance of these new technologies