What it is
Natural hydrogen is a colourless, odourless and non-toxic gas. It is very light, 14.4 times lighter than the air. Consequently, natural hydrogen alone cannot be found on the Earth since it disperses into the outer space. Researchers say that hydrogen only represents 0.9% of the Earth’s crust components. It can be found in elementary state in volcanic emissions, fumaroles, and oil springs. However it is present combined with other elements in many compounds such as water, mineral substances, hydrocarbons such as oil and methane, coal, animal and vegetal organisms, and organic substances. Therefore, if natural hydrogen is to be found, it will be necessary to consume much energy to extract it from the substances that contain it. This is why hydrogen is not a primary energy source, but an “energy carrier”, i.e. a form of energy that is not naturally available (as the case is with natural gas, oil or coal).
In the gaseous state it is a good fuel, albeit less dense than natural gas. When it is burnt, it produces a quantity of heat expressed in Joules per kilogram 2.6 times greater than the energy produced by burning natural gas.
Another feature is that it tends to form hydrides, i.e. solid compounds, when it gets in contact with most of elementary metals, thus making them more fragile.
If it is cooled at a temperature of –253°C, hydrogen becomes liquid and in that state it does not react chemically with metals. This is the reason why it is difficult, in the gaseous state, to use pipelines to transport it, whereas it is easier to transport it when it is liquid.
Special reports
-
15 April 2014
How rich are we …. in blue gold?
Water footprint, water availability and use on a planetary scale...
-
13 May 2013
Small steps, great footprints
Have you ever wondered how much space is taken up by an apple or a steak?...
18 May 2011
Artificial photosynthesis
The history of science and technology is packed with discoveries and inventions inspired by nature...
4 November 2009
Ecological house
At present, it is more and more difficult to assure the comfort standard...
-
10 September 2020
A simple and ingenious invention
There are objects so simple and ordinary that we forget their existence when we don't need them. Their presence is…
17 March 2020
Energy and renewable sources: what is the current status?
The unstoppable growth of renewable sources continues…
23 September 2019
Everything is transformed
At primary school we learn that nothing is created and nothing is destroyed. We have heard this phrase so many…
-
15 April 2014
How rich are we …. in blue gold?
Water footprint, water availability and use on a planetary scale...
-
13 May 2013
Small steps, great footprints
Have you ever wondered how much space is taken up by an apple or a steak?...
-
18 May 2011
Artificial photosynthesis
The history of science and technology is packed with discoveries and inventions inspired by nature...
4 November 2009
Ecological house
At present, it is more and more difficult to assure the comfort standard...
-
15 April 2014
How rich are we …. in blue gold?
Water footprint, water availability and use on a planetary scale...
From the Multimedia section
Facts
-
A hydrogen house
In Settimo, a municipality close to Turin, the first Unité d’Abitation has been created...
Hydrogen from biomass
Hydrogen is an energy carrier that allows to generate energy in an environmentally sustainable way...
Porto Marghera Hydrogen Park
In Porto Marghera (Venice), the Hydrogen Park was created. It is the biggest centre in the world for hydrogen production...
-
Hydrogen from the sugar cane
The Centro di Ricerca Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (CIRPS) carried out a study in Peru...
Some curiosities about methane hydrates
The melting of the ice cells, not only brings about the release of methane gas, but it also produces another…
Where does energy come from?
Every day the Earth receives enough solar energy to satisfy the global energy need...
-
Electricity and electrons
In all electric plants, excluding photovoltaic solar plants, mechanic energy is transformed into electric energy through the same basic procedure...
Orimulsion
In order to improve supply security, and therefore the diversification of sources to produce electric energy...
Cracking operations
At the end of the fractional distillation, long hydrocarbon molecules can be transformed into lighter molecules by means of more…
-
16 May 2011
A hydrogen house
In Settimo, a municipality close to Turin, the first Unité d’Abitation has been created...
Hydrogen from biomass
Hydrogen is an energy carrier that allows to generate energy in an environmentally sustainable way...
-
Porto Marghera Hydrogen Park
In Porto Marghera (Venice), the Hydrogen Park was created. It is the biggest centre in the world for hydrogen production...
Hydrogen from the sugar cane
The Centro di Ricerca Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (CIRPS) carried out a study in Peru...
-
14 June 2011
Some curiosities about methane hydrates
The melting of the ice cells, not only brings about the release of methane gas, but it also produces another…
2 March 2011
Where does energy come from?
Every day the Earth receives enough solar energy to satisfy the global energy need...
-
16 May 2011
A hydrogen house
In Settimo, a municipality close to Turin, the first Unité d’Abitation has been created...
-
Hydrogen from biomass
Hydrogen is an energy carrier that allows to generate energy in an environmentally sustainable way...
-
Porto Marghera Hydrogen Park
In Porto Marghera (Venice), the Hydrogen Park was created. It is the biggest centre in the world for hydrogen production...