Hydrogen energy systems and sustainable development

In this paper, some crucial results of our comprehensive research program on various aspects of hydrogen energy systems, including environmental, life cycle assessment, sustainability, and thermodynamic (both energetic and exergetic) are presented and discussed for better future. Such systems include a wide range of applications from hydrogen production through renewables and nuclear to fuel cells. Results are compared for various novel technologies. Fossil fuels (e.g., natural gas) and renewable energy resources (e.g., solar, wind) are considered for hydrogen production, and conventional and new exergetic life cycle assessments are conducted to study the aspects of efficiency, environmental impact and sustainable development. Since an understanding of the thermodynamic aspects of hydrogen energy systems can help in taking sustainable and environmentally benign actions regarding energy, both energy and exergy analyses are undertaken for various hydrogen energy systems and fuel cell systems to study energy and exergy efficiencies and their improvement for better system performance and hence faster commercialization. In this regard some new techniques, methods and models are developed and discussed for practical use, in particular to help researchers, scientists and engineers who deal with the design, analysis and implementation of such hydrogen energy systems, including fuel cell systems.