The UK government wants to cut carbon emissions to zero by 2050, so there is a race to find clean, long-lasting energy sources that don’t come from fossil fuels. Hydrogen fuel is one of the most promising options. It’s a clean-burning gas that can power everything from cars and buses to factories and homes. But what is hydrogen fuel, how does it work, and why are so many politicians, energy experts, and environmentalists excited about it?
Let’s make it simple.
What is hydrogen fuel?
The universe has the most hydrogen. It doesn’t often exist on its own on Earth; instead, it is usually found in compounds like water (H₂O) or methane (CH₄). Before hydrogen can be used as a fuel, it has to be taken out.
Hydrogen can be used to make energy either by burning it (like regular fuels) or more cleanly with a fuel cell once it is in its pure form (H₂).
How does hydrogen fuel work?
The most common use for hydrogen fuel is in fuel cells, which use an electrochemical reaction to turn chemical energy into electricity. This is how it works:
Basics of fuel cells: A hydrogen fuel cell mixes hydrogen gas with oxygen from the air.
Electrochemical reaction: Hydrogen atoms inside the cell break down into protons and electron.
Electricity generation: The electrons move through a circuit outside of the device, making electricity. The only byproduct is water (H₂O), which is made when the hydrogen ions (protons) combine with oxygen. This is why hydrogen fuel is so appealing: it makes electricity without releasing any harmful gases.
There are three kinds of hydrogen: gray, blue, and green.
Not all hydrogen is the same. The way hydrogen is made affects how it affects the environment:
Grey hydrogen: This type of hydrogen is made from natural gas through a process called steam methane reforming. This method releases carbon dioxide and is bad for the environment.
Blue hydrogen is also made from natural gas, but it uses carbon capture and storage (CCS) to keep emissions from escaping.
Green hydrogen is the cleanest type. It is made by using renewable electricity (like wind or solar) to break water down into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis. There are no carbon emissions at all.
As part of its Hydrogen Strategy to use less fossil fuels, the UK is putting a lot of money into green and blue hydrogen.
What are the good things about hydrogen fuel?
Hydrogen isn’t just an interesting scientific fact; it could really help the UK’s energy future.
- No emissions at the point of use
Hydrogen fuel cells only give off heat and water vapor. They don’t make carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, or particulates like petrol or diesel do, so they are great for reducing air pollution in cities.
In cities like London and Manchester, where air quality is becoming more of a problem, hydrogen buses and taxis could help cut down on harmful emissions.
- Very efficient with energy
Hydrogen fuel cells work better than engines that burn gasoline. A petrol engine can only turn 25–30% of the energy in fuel into movement, but hydrogen fuel cells can do this with 60% or more efficiency.
This means that each unit of energy will take you farther, which is good for both people and the environment.
- Quick refueling and a long range
It only takes a few minutes to fill up a hydrogen fuel tank, unlike electric batteries that take hours to charge. Also, hydrogen vehicles can go 300 to 400 miles or more, which makes them good for long-distance travel and business use.
This makes hydrogen a great fuel for things like public transportation (buses, trains)
- Heavy trucks
- Air travel and shipping
- Services for emergencies
- Storing energy and balancing the grid
One of the biggest problems with renewable energy sources like wind and solar is that they don’t always work. For example, it might not always be sunny or windy. Hydrogen is a way to keep extra renewable energy.
Electrolysis can turn extra electricity on the grid into hydrogen. You can then store that hydrogen and use it later, which helps balance supply and demand and cuts down on waste.
- Making the UK safer and giving people jobs
Domestic hydrogen production can help the UK become less dependent on imported oil and gas as it tries to do so.
Also, building up hydrogen infrastructure is expected to create thousands of green jobs, especially in places like the North East, Wales, and Scotland. The East Coast Hydrogen initiative and other projects are already getting things ready for a hydrogen economy in the UK.
Problems Ahead: What’s stopping hydrogen?
Hydrogen fuel has a lot of potential, but it also has some problems:
High cost of making: Right now, green hydrogen costs more than fossil fuels, but prices are likely to go down as new ideas and larger production come along.
Infrastructure gaps: The UK still doesn’t have enough hydrogen refueling stations and pipelines.
Storage and transport: Hydrogen is hard to store and move because it is low in density and can catch fire.
But the government and private investors are quickly working to fix these problems. The UK’s Hydrogen Strategy (2021) says that by 2030, the country will have the ability to make 10 GW of low-carbon hydrogen.
How Hydrogen Fuel Works: Case Studies from the UK
Transport for London (TfL) is testing hydrogen-powered buses on routes all over the city. Aberdeen started one of the UK’s first fleets of hydrogen buses and wants to build more hydrogen production plants.
The government is giving £20 million to help build the Tees Valley as a hub for hydrogen transport.Heathrow Airport is looking into using hydrogen to power planes and vehicles at the airport.
These projects show that hydrogen isn’t just a theory; it’s being used and tested on the streets of the UK right now.
Is hydrogen the UK’s future source of clean energy?
Hydrogen fuel isn’t the only answer, but it’s an important part of the clean energy puzzle. Hydrogen could be the answer in places where battery-electric solutions don’t work well, like heavy transport, long-distance travel, and industrial processes.
The UK is in a good position to become a world leader in hydrogen innovation because the government supports it, there are strong research institutions, and the green tech sector is growing.
As we move toward a future with no net emissions, hydrogen won’t replace all fuels, but it will be an important part of the mix with renewables, batteries, and carbon capture technologies.
Last Words
One of the most exciting new energy sources is hydrogen fuel. It is a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to fossil fuels that fits perfectly with the UK’s net-zero goals and the growing need for energy resilience.
There are still problems to solve, but the possible benefits—clean air, fewer emissions, energy security, and new green jobs—are too big to ignore. Now is the time to pay attention to hydrogen, whether you’re a policymaker, a business owner, or a consumer who cares about the environment.
The future of hydrogen is coming, and for the UK, it could be one of the best investments we can make.
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