Hydrogen is now considered one of the best means of storing and transporting the energy of the future. At present most hydrogen is made from the reforming of fossil fuel gas, but it can be made electrolytically, by splitting water molecules into its constituent parts of oxygen and hydrogen. If the electricity that is used comes from a renewable energy source, then Hydrogen could then become a green energy alternative to power everything from laptops to submarines.

Fuel cell technology, which allows hydrogen gas to bond back with atmospheric oxygen to create electricity and fresh water, is the key to hydrogen exploitation. Although many different systems have been successfully designed, economies of scale require mass production before any can hit the high street. A wide range of research areas are active across the world.

Hydrogen storage and distribution technologies are under development, and top genome research labs are focusing on the possibility of designing a GM microbe to produce pure biological hydrogen.

This is the area that may produce the largest surprises and opportunities in Renewable Energy.

The world's first retail hydrogen fuel station, just outside Reykjavik.
Copyright: Green Energy Jobs

Hydrogen filler nozzle.
Copyright: Green Energy Jobs