Subject:- Renewable Energy Sources

Topic:- Energy Management

Difficulty:- High

ADVANTAGES:-

1. Fuel cell have higher efficiency than diesel or gas engine.

2. most fuel cells operate silently compared to internal combustion engines, they are therefore ideally suited for use within buildings such as hospitals.

3. Fuel cells can eliminate pollution caused by burning fossil fuels, for hydrogen fuelled fuel cells the only by-product at point of use is water.

4. If the hydrogen comes from the electrolysis of water driven by renewable energy, then using fuel cells eliminates greenhouse gases over the whole cycle.

5. Fuel cells do not need conventional fuels such as oil or gas and can therefore reduce economic dependence on oil producing countries creating greater energy security for the user nation.

Disadvantages:

1. Hydrogen is currently very expensive not because it is rare but because it is difficult to generate , handle and store , requiring bulky and heavy tanks like those for compressed natural gas (CNG) or complex insulating bottles if stored as cryogenic liquid like liquefied natural gas (LNG).

2. It can also be stored at moderate temperature and pressures in a tank containing a metal hydride absorber or carbon absorber though these are currently very expensive.