Hydrogen explained  

Hydrogen is the simplest element

Each atom of hydrogen has only one proton. Hydrogen is also the most abundant element in the universe. The sun, and other stars, are essentially giant balls of hydrogen and helium gases.

Hydrogen occurs naturally on earth in compound form with other elements in liquids, gases, or solids. Hydrogen combined with oxygen is water (H₂O). Hydrogen combined with carbon forms different compounds—or hydrocarbons—that are found in natural gas, coal, and petroleum.

Hydrogen is an energy carrier

Energy carriers transport energy in a usable form from one place to another. Elemental hydrogen is an energy carrier that must be produced from another substance. Hydrogen can be produced—or separated—from a variety of sources, including water, fossil fuels, or biomass and used as a source of energy or fuel. Hydrogen has the highest energy content of any common fuel by weight (about three times more than gasoline), but it has the lowest energy content by volume as a liquid (about four times less than gasoline).

It takes more energy to produce hydrogen (by separating it from other elements in molecules) than hydrogen provides when it is converted to useful energy. However, hydrogen is useful as a fuel because it has a high energy content per unit of weight, which is why it is used as a rocket fuel and in fuel cells to produce electricity on some spacecraft. Hydrogen is not widely used as a fuel now, but it has the potential for greater use in the future.

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Hydrogen Program has a number of participating DOE offices and programs for hydrogen research, development, and deployment. One of the largest programs is the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs, sponsored by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, to accelerate hydrogen use as an energy carrier for delivering and storing energy.

Last updated June 23, 2023.