Sustainable Energy

Hydrogen on Demand

Feb 23, 2010

Supply-chain challenges have kept the hydrogen economy from becoming a reality, but the Hydrofill refueling station bypasses those problems by letting users make their own fuel. The desktop-sized unit, which can be powered from an AC adapter or an optional solar panel, electrolyzes water to make hydrogen gas. The gas is stored as a solid in metal hydride cartridges, which take an hour to fill; the cartridges can then be used in a handheld fuel-cell recharger that supplies power to portable electronics.