Powering The World With Hydrogen

The global energy consumption has been on the rise worldwide as developing nations begin to industrialize and as consumers in developed nations buy more energy consuming appliances to make life more comfortable. If the current trends continue, we may face an energy shortage in future. The phrase "hydrogen economy" refers to programs at using hydrogen as an energy carrier to replace hydrocarbon fuels and reduce emissions produced by their consumption. Technologies such as fuel cells developed for cars, buses, power generation and other applications, along with the infrastructural implications of their broad and increasing use, are being demonstrated in many countries around the world. Activities related to the hydrogen economy are covered on a country by country basis, where applicable. Keyword: climate change; clean energy; energy challenge; renewable energy; hydrogen; hydrogen economy; innovation, fuel cell A. Background The beginning of world energy problem starts when the scientists agree that climate change is bound to happen in a certain time in the future. This adds to other significant problem surrounding energy consumption such as the scarcity of fossil fuel. Energy has been the reason behind some political movement which are currently revolving on how to find an endless source, whatever it takes. The search of that kind of source is motivated by the imagination of a world powered almost entirely by an infinite endless and totally clean fuel. Hydrogen is just such a fuel. It is one of the most common elements in the universe, can be made from water, and used to generate simple electricity for homes and cars. In such a world energy would come from an easily stored and domestically produced fuel. Electric power and transportation would be totally clean and entirely free of messy geopolitical problems. Unlike fossil fuels used in today's almost all human daily activities, the only by-product of hydrogen power would be pure water. With hydrogen, the challenge isn't finding a supply, but extracting the hydrogen cheaply and cleanly. For decades, scientists has been and still trying to find ways to do so. This is when a coherent energy strategy is required. Which are addressing both energy supply and demand. Then, taking account of the whole energy lifecycle including fuel production, transmission and distribution, and energy conversion. Also, the impact on energy equipment manufacturers and the end-users of energy systems. Problem While the scientists are fighting in their own way to create the most balanced energy sources, how much exactly is the damage that we have been tortured the world with? Implementing the idea of hydrogen as a source can’t be taken for granted. Such problems follows: Can hydrogen be used as a more efficient and cleaner alternative energy source? How far the idea of using hydrogen as an energy source can be implemented? Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultur, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 5(2) July 2018, 55-65 P-ISSN: 1410-881X (Print) Theresia Asteria, Powering the World with Hydrogen DOI: http://www.konfrontasi.net/index.php/konfrontasi2 56 Purpose The aim is to know if there are possibilites in achieving higher energy efficiency in renewable resources, particularly hydrogen. Energy, Natural Resources and Environment: 1. Energy Markets Commodities markets that deal specifically with the trade and supply of energy are called energy markets. It is not only refer to an electricity market, but also to other sources of energy like oil and gas. When the government creating an energy policy that encourages the development of an energy industry in a competitive manner, it results as an energy development. a. Energy Production As of 2011, world primary energy production grew at the slower pace of 2.7%, from 4.5% in 2010. In Asia, where the growth of primary energy production it increased 7.1% in 2010. It hardly caught up with the consumption growth in 2011, where there was a 3.7% increase against 5.1% for the consumption. Production rose by 7.1% or 163 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in China, a little less than consumption. It stagnated in India, slightly increased by 0.4% and even fell by 36% or 34 Mtoe in Japan following the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The sharp reduction in Japan contributed to the stagnation of the primary production in the OECD countries, which was increase 14 Mtoe. The dynamic production trend in North America, 3.8% rose by 81 Mtoe, was partially offset by the 3% or 33 Mtoe decrease in Europe. In Africa, primary production decreased by 5.7%, while it rose by 2% in Latin America and the former Soviet Union territories, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Oil and gas producing countries in the Middle East posted 10% increase or 165 Mtoe in production in 2011. As of 2011, OECD accounted for 30% of the world primary energy production, same as Asia. While China alone is 19%. b. Energy Trade By 2011, the Middle East region strengthened its position as the world’s largest net exporter of energy with 12% increase in the trade surplus and only added 2% in Russia. In North America, shale gas resources contributed to the 4.8% increase in Canadian net exports and to the 12% fall in net energy imports in the United States. The trade surplus increased only 2% in Latin America, even though Argentina became a net importer in 2011. In Africa, the trade surplus dropped by 14% due to the reduction in Algeria and Nigeria net exports, 5.2% and 2.3% respectively. In Europe, net energy imports increased by only 1.1% as energy demand was impacted by the economic crisis. In Asia, net imports continued to soar to sustain the 9.8% on average in industrial growth, but 14% in China and 21% in India. c. Energy Consumption Primary energy consumption increased at a much slower pace in 2011, by 2.2%, after the strong growth noticed in 2010, which was 4.9%. As an impact of economic crisis, energy consumption in OECD countries fell by 1.3%, in line with the 3.2% drop in the European Union and the stagnation in North America, including 0.7% drop in the United States. In China and India, energy consumption continued to grow steadily, 7.7% and 6.2% respectively, with China widening the gap with the United States, 19% above Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultur, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 5(2) July 2018, 55-65 P-ISSN: 1410-881X (Print) Theresia Asteria, Powering the World with Hydrogen DOI: http://www.konfrontasi.net/index.php/konfrontasi2 57 the USA. Energy demand in Japan fell by 6.6% compared to a 6.3% hike in 2010, while it increased at a slower pace in many southeastern Asian countries. Thus, limiting the growth in energy demand in Asia to 5.1% in 2011. The dynamic trend in Africa and Latin America, 3.1% and 5.1% respectively, in 2010 and stalled in 2011 WITH less than 1% growth. 2. Renewable Energy Climate change raises the world’s concerns. There is this urgent need to reduce carbon emissions that are driving increasing growth in the renewable energy industries. Many countries now have targets for their own renewable energy futures, and have enacted wide-ranging public policies to promote renewables. Low-carbon renewable energy replaces conventional fossil fuels in three main areas. They are power generation, hot water or space heating, and transport fuels. Total investment in renewable energy reached US$257 billion in 2011, up from US$211 billion in 2010. The top countries for investment in 2011 Were China, Germany, the United States, Italy, and Brazil. a. Electricity Production The share of renewables in global power generation slightly exceeded 20% in the world in 2011. Renewables, mainly hydro, account for more than 58% of the power mix in Latin America. Their share increased by two percentage points in North America. In the United States, hydropower production and wind generation rose by more than 25% and solar production by 50%. In Canada, hydropower production which was 60% of total generation, increased by 7% and wind generation doubled. In Europe, the share of renewables in power generation increased slightly to nearly 26% in 2011. In Italy and the United Kingdom, changes in the financial incentive schemes boosted solar power generation, which increased by 65% in the United Kingdom and rose fivefold in Italy. On the contrary, coal promotion policies, and to a lesser extent adverse hydro conditions, reduced the share of renewables in power generation from nearly 33% to 29% in Spain. In China, the steady progression of renewables in the power mix since 2007 stalled in 2011, 16% of the power generation, from 18% in 2010, in spite of a 22% increase in wind generation, owing to a rising coal-fired production. In India on the contrary, the share of renewables in the power mix gained one percentage point driven by hydropower of 14% and wind 23%. b. Primary Consumption The share of renewables in global power generation slightly exceeded 20% in the world in 2011. Renewables, mainly hydro, account for more than 58% of the power mix in Latin America and their share increased by two percentage points in North America. In the United States, hydropower production and wind generation rose by more than 25% and solar production by 50%. In Canada, hydropower production which accounts 60% of total generation, increased by 7% and wind generation doubled. In Europe, the share of renewables in power generation increased slightly to nearly 26% in 2011. In Italy and the United Kingdom, changes in the financial incentive schemes boosted solar power generation, which increased by 65% in the United Kingdom and rose fivefold in Italy. On the contrary, coal promotion policies, and to a lesser extent adverse Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultur, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 5(2) July 2018, 55-65 P-ISSN: 1410-881X (Print) Theresia Asteria, Powering the World with Hydrogen DOI: http://www.konfrontasi.net/index.php/konfrontasi2 58 hydro conditions, reduced the share of renewables in power generation from nearly 33% to 29% in Spain. In Chin