Search
Events
Sept. 5-6: New Energy (HY+FC) Asia 2007
New Energy (Hydrogen + Fuel Cells) Asia 2007 and 2nd China International Hydrogen Energy Conference, co-organized by China Industrial Gases Industry Association (CIGIA) and China Urban Public Transport Association (CUPTA) will be held at Shanghai Mart Expo Center on September 5th-7th, 2007.
To appreciate the purpose of this conference, it might help to know a little bit more about hydrogen and the fuel cell economy.
Here’s what I learned from some factsheets published by the Washington D.C.-based International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE):
Where does hydrogen come from?
Hydrogen is the most abundant gas in the universe and the simplest element, consisting of one proton and one electron. As a gas, hydrogen does not exist in a natural state on earth. It is always mixed with other elements. Combined with oxygen, it creates water. Combined with carbon, it makes different compounds such as methane, coal, and petroleum – today’s major fuels.
Hydrogen can also be produced by using electricity to separate it from oxygen in water through a process known as electrolysis. The electricity for the electrolysis process can be produced from a variety of energy sources such as oil, coal, natural gas, nuclear energy, and renewable energy sources such as wind power, hydroelectricity, biomass,
geothermal, and solar energy. Other less developed and applied methods include thermo and biochemical processes.
How can we use hydrogen as an energy source?
As an energy carrier, hydrogen holds the potential to dramatically transform the ways in which we use energy. It may be utilized to fuel hydrogen-powered vehicles, eventually allowing us to replace traditional automobiles with a clean hydrogen alternative. And, because hydrogen can be stored and transported to where it is needed, it may be used in combination with fuel cells to provide energy in locations not served by the electric power grid and, for stationary applications that require very reliable sources of electricity, such as the information technology industry and medical applications.
What is a fuel cell?
Fuel cells are one of the key enabling technologies for a future hydrogen economy. They have the potential to replace the internal combustion engine in vehicles and to provide power in stationary and portable power applications.
A fuel cell is a device that generally uses hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity by an electrochemical process. A single fuel cell consists of an electrolyte and two catalyst-coated electrodes. Hydrogen is fed into the anode and oxygen is fed into the cathode. In the case of a PEM Fuel Cell, a catalyst strips electrons from the hydrogen atom. Freed of the electrons, the protons pass through the electrolyte. The electrons take a different path to the cathode creating an electric current that can be utilized. At the cathode, another catalyst rejoins the hydrogen atom, which then combines with oxygen to create a molecule of water.
What’s the status of fuel cell cars in China?
(Image via the Wall Street Journal)
The Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC) unveiled its first hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle at the 2007 Shanghai Auto Show. The SAIC plans to put the fuel-cell sedan, marketed under a Shanghai brand name, into commercial production by 2010, according to the China Daily.
The image above is the latest fuel cell concept car from Chinese automaker Chery, which “expects it will take five to ten years to develop the technology to a stage where it can be used commercially,” according to the Wall Street Journal.
For more information on the HY+FC conference, visit http://www.hy-fcexpo.com/yqh.php
Contact:
AIT Events Co., Ltd
Room 1601, Block3, Zhubang 2000 Office Tower, No.98 Balizhuangxili,
Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100025
Karen Wang, Doris Lu
Tel: 86-10-8586 8930
Fax: 86-10-8586 8931
E-mail: hy-fc@ait-events.com
Related articles and resources about hydrogen energy in China:
- “China produces its first fuel cell car with completely independent IPR”
from Fuel Cell Today
16 October 2006
- Hydrogen Energy Vision and Technology Roadmap Report for China
from the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE) Implementation Liaison Committee Meeting, held in Brazil on March 22-23, 2005
- “HYDROGEN POWER IN CHINA: Will Fuel Cells Ever Be Clean, Cheap, Efficient?”
from EcoWorld
By Gordon Feller
October 15, 2004
[tags]hydrogen fuel cells, Shanghai Auto Show, alternative energy, sustainability, China, business, environment[/tags]
Discussion
2 comments for “Sept. 5-6: New Energy (HY+FC) Asia 2007”
Post a comment
Support
Responsible Events
Erica
Hydrogen fuel cells always sound nice, but the problem is that it takes alot of energy to pry the hydrogen off of oxygen (the most common practice). Oil companies are getting into the game by stripping hydrogen from hydrocarbons.
But with battery technology advancing very rapidly, all electric cars are probably going to be the future and not just the wave of the future.
Just check out the Tesla sports car.
And I have to agree with nanheyangrouchuan on that one. The hydrogen has to come from somewhere. Water is the obvious choice, but regardless of the source, it’s going to take energy to extract the hydrogen. Where does that energy come from? Seems to me there are far more sustainable sources of energy.