For those of you, who, like me, are not that clear on what a hydrogen fuel cell is, it’s basically a process whereby hydrogen and oxygen combine to create a current of electricity, where the only by-product is water vapour. Clearly this is much more desirable than the polluting carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide which are released from petrol run vehicles.

With the growing concern for the environment and the high price of petrol, hydrogen fuel cells have finally been brought into the limelight.

A hydrogen fuel cell Chevrolet Equinox car was presented at the Detroit Auto show in early January this year, signaling the start of a genuine move to more energy efficient vehicles. While Honda and Toyota have been working on fuel cells for commercial use for years, with Honda developing 200 hydrogen cars for commercial sales in 2008, it has taken the rising petrol prices and an economic crisis for US car companies to realise that fuel cells are the way forward, however, the hydrogen infrastructure needed and the high cost of the cars ($100,000) means that the hydrogen-powered future for cars is not within immediate reach.

Check out this fantastic video of the ENV hydrogen-powered motor bike, which has been developed at a cost of only $6000. At this price these could be seen on the road in the next two years, if only more places follow California’s lead and invest in the hydrogen filling stations needed.

While car companies argue about the economic value of producing hydrogen fuel cells, a Queensland school has been leading the way in developing them.

Our first Guest writer, Dr Antoine Durandet, the head of science at All Saints Anglican school, Australia, explains why they started working on them, and what the students did.

“In the last couple of years we have introduced hydrogen fuel cells as a context to teach science in senior high school. Our main drive is to introduce concepts that expand our students’ understanding and appreciation of a sustainable future, while teaching the core subjects.

I have a background is plasma physics and spent 15 years in research laboratories as an experimental physicist before becoming a teacher ( by the way the best job i ever had!), so I am constantly looking for new challenges and projects for our students. Our biggest project was in 2007, when a team of students constructed a speed boat (scale model), powered by a 100w hydrogen fuel cell. The boat was presented at the Solar Boat Challenge on the Gold Coast.

In 2008, a group of 4 students from All Saints attended the students forum at the 17th World Hydrogen Economy Conference (WHEC 08, Brisbane Australia, March 08 Together with other teams from Australia, New Zealand and USA, they investigated the properties of Hydrogen Fuel cells. No doubt these guys will be our experts in 2009!

All Saints is a leading school in sustainability and especially in hydrogen fuel cell, as a result our students have hands on experiences with this state of the art technology. If you have any interest in this technology, please contact us.”