Environmental Benefits

Hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources is one of the cleanest fuels available and is by many seen as the “fuel of the future”. Though hydrogen produced from non-renewable sources is less environmentally friendly, it still has significant advantages over traditional fuels.

Producing hydrogen by processing hydrocarbons or by electrolysis using electricity that was itself produced from fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide. However “well to wheels” comparisons of using hydrogen as a fuel take into account all such greenhouse gas emissions and hydrogen still comes out on top. When hydrogen is produced from renewable hydrocarbons, such as bio mass, or by using electricity from renewable energy sources, such as wind power, the story just gets better.

BOC recognises the advantages of hydrogen and is involved in projects on the forefront of the hydrogen economy. In the transport arena BOC is involved in the CUTE project, which introduces fuel cell run buses on the streets of London and Perth. Also, BOC is working alongside DTI on the Black Country Housing project, where fuel cells are used for electricity and heating in the domestic sphere. BOC has recently undertaken to project manage the installation of a hydrogen pipeline and storage for the CREST project in Loughborough.