Advanced Energy Perspectives

This post is one in a series featuring the complete slate of advanced energy technologies outlined in the report This Is Advanced Energy. 

Hydrogen vehicles are either fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) or internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles designed to burn hydrogen instead of gasoline. FCVs are actually electric vehicles in which the electricity is produced on board by fuel cells — electrochemical devices that convert hydrogen and oxygen (in the air) directly into electricity without combustion. Pure hydrogen gas is stored onboard the vehicle in pressurized tanks or other means. FCVs can be refilled within 10 minutes at a hydrogen fueling station. FCVs have a range of approximately 300 miles, similar to conventional ICE vehicles, and produce only water as a byproduct. There has also been some development of hydrogen-fueled ICE vehicles, which offer high fuel efficiency and very low tailpipe emissions.

This post is one in a series featuring the complete slate of advanced energy technologies outlined in the report This Is Advanced Energy. 

Hydroelectric power plants use turbines and generators to convert the kinetic energy of moving water into electricity. There are three major types of hydroelectric power plants: impoundment, run-of-river (diversion), and pumped storage. An impoundment facility uses a dam to store river water in a reservoir, which it then releases through turbines to generate electricity. The height differential (“hydraulic head”) between the reservoir surface and the turbine outlet is what provides the energy for power generation. A run-of-river facility takes advantage of natural elevation changes along a river, diverting a portion of the river flow via pipes or underground conduits to drive turbines and generate power without a dam. Because of this design, the output from run-of-river plants can uctuate throughout the year, whereas impoundment plants generally have steadier output. Pumped hydro storage is a form of bulk energy storage that generates electricity when demand is high. In addition to these three major variants, there is a niche application called in-conduit hydropower, which uses hydro turbines to harness energy from water supply infrastructure such as tunnels, irrigation canals, and pipes.