Did you know that a lot of the hydrogen used to in fuel cells is produced from fossil fuels? A bit alarming isn’t it?
Well, thankfully researchers are looking into producing hydrogen from other substances such as dough, and human waste.
One such group researchers is the Kajima company. They are working with the Tokyo University to develop ways of using microbes to create hydrogen from human waste and other sources, such as run-off water.
Their collaboration has produced a prototype fuel cell which is able to generate 130W from each cubic meter of waste, and Kajima has suggested that a commercial product may be available by 2020.
Another company called Sapporo Breweries has done similar research. They have developed a way of using microbes to decompose waste dough thereby creating hydrogen. And they are much further along in the development of their fuel cells. The company says that it will sell fuel cells to food-processing plants by some time next year.
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