Hydrogen is the first element on the periodic table, and it's the atom scientist understand the most thoroughly. Hydrogen is also the most abundant element, making up a large part of star formation, and it is a part of life's necessity -- water. The sun converts hydrogen into helium, which is responsible for our radiant energy for photosynthesis. Consequently, it isn't any surprise that scientists have found a way to use hydrogen as a more environmentally safe product for fuel and energy.
Energy
Electricity is the currently used form of motility for energy. It's this form of energy carrier that is used to power houses and business from power plants located all over the world. Power plants take the energy obtained from coal and uranium and use electricity as a medium for power. Although not used as widely as electricity, hydrogen also has the ability to carry energy from one source to a recipient. Because water is the most abundant resource on the planet, researchers study ways to use its hydrogen components instead of depleting the natural resources of coal and uranium.
Hydrogen Synthesis
Hydrogen gas (H2) is lighter than air, so it rises to the top of the atmosphere. For this reason, hydrogen isn't located naturally in our air. However, hydrogen can be synthesized from two natural resources -- water and methane.
Steam reforming is a method used to separate the hydrogen atoms from methane gas. Methane contains four hydrogen atoms. Methane is a fossil fuel, but it is also the main byproduct of industrial waste which accounts largely for the greenhouse effect.
Electrolysis is the most promising technique of obtaining hydrogen. It's the most expensive technique, so it's still under study. Electrolysis is a process that splits the hydrogen from water molecules, and it leaves no environmentally destructive emissions.
Uses
NASA is the primary user of hydrogen resources, especially in its space program. NASA uses liquid hydrogen to fuel the booster rockets of the space shuttle, and it uses hydrogen batteries for electrical sources. In the public sector, hydrogen is being used for portable cell batteries for equipment such as laptops and cell phones. Hydrogen is also being used for emergency power for hospitals.
Fuel
There are approximately 500 hydrogen-powered cars in the United States. The use of hydrogen for electric motors known as fuel cells is becoming more popular. Because of the high expense of producing these fuel cells, these cars have a considerably higher price than conventional vehicles. However, the use of hydrogen to power cars leaves little to no emissions on the environment.
Future
Again, the cost of hydrogen power plants and fuel cells has made it an inefficient technique. Scientists continue to study better ways to synthesize the gas to make it a cost effective way to power homes, cars and businesses.
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