Tomorrow's Energy: Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and the Prospects for a Cleaner Planet - Tapa dura

"Chronicles the progress of hydrogen energy from a vision to a niche market to its position today on the brink of full commercialization.... After reading this book, one can see the dream of a hydrogen-based economy becoming a reality." - from the foreword by Senator Tom Harkin "Hoffmann conveys both hydrogen's history and coming hurdles. Balance and completeness distinguish the book. No other book compares." - Jesse H. Ausubel, Director, Program for the Human Environment, Rockefeller University "Peter Hoffmann has succeeded in writing a comprehensive history of hydrogen as an energy carrier along with an evaluation of its current status, so that the reader can judge the progress made to date in developing hydrogen as a supplement to electricity in delivering energy without environmental degradation. I do not know of any other book that covers this full range of hydrogen energy issues." - C. E. (Sandy) Thomas, Vice President, Energy and Environment, Directed Technologies, Inc. "This excellent book reveals the numerous opportunities hydrogen offers for satisfying modern energy needs." - Hermann Scheer, President, EUROSOLAR "Peter Hoffmann is a keen observer who has kept his finger on the pulse of global hydrogen and fuel-cell developments. His critical insights and knowledge are elegantly packaged in this very readable and highly recommended book. The author lays out the possibilities and challenges - can we as a society respond with the necessary vision and commitment?" - Alan C. Lloyd, Chairman, California Air Resources Board

Hydrogen is the quintessential eco-fuel. This invisible, tasteless gas is the most abundant element in the universe. It is the basic building block and fuel of stars and an essential raw material in innumerable biological and chemical processes. As a completely nonpolluting fuel, it may hold the answer to growing environmental concerns about atmospheric accumulation of carbon dioxide and the resultant Greenhouse Effect. In this book Peter Hoffmann describes current research toward a hydrogen-based economy. He presents the history of hydrogen energy and discusses the environmental dangers of continued dependence on fossil fuels. Hydrogen is not an energy source but a carrier that, like electricity, must be manufactured. Today hydrogen is manufactured by "decarbonizing" fossil fuels. In the future it will be derived from water and solar energy and perhaps from "cleaner" versions of nuclear energy. Because it can be made by a variety of methods, Hoffmann argues, it can be easily adapted by different countries and economies. Hoffmann acknowledges the social, political, and economic difficulties in replacing current energy systems with an entirely new one. Although the process of converting to a hydrogen-based economy would be complex, he demonstrates that the environmental and health benefits would far outweigh the costs.