US persists with efforts to harness hydrogen
Hydrotec technology from General Motors will be used as the basis for the GM/L-A system (Photo: Liebherr-Aerospace)
Research teams in the US military and industry are looking to prove the practical benefits of using hydrogen fuel cells.
Military researchers in the US are continuing efforts with industry to harness the most abundant element in the universe — hydrogen — as a means of reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Hydrogen can be expensive to extract and it tends to be more difficult to store and transport than oil-based fuels, partly because it is highly flammable.
Also, while hydrogen energy is renewable and has a minimal environmental impact, fossil fuels are often used to extract it, thereby reducing or negating any emissions-reduction benefits.
There are potential advantages, though. In larger gas turbine engines, hydrogen can be burnt
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