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October 25, 2002
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GEM-SCHOLARS WHO ANSWERED THE QUESTION
CORRECTLY: Alexis K. in VA, Jessica D. in VT, Kathryn T. in
VA, Kelly B. in PA, Lauren P. in CT, Maggie K. in CT, Rashelle
C. in PA, Rebekah T. in KS, Ruth O. in NH.
A:Fuel cells can promote energy diversity and a transition
to renewable energy
sources. Hydrogen -- the most abundant element on Earth --
can be used
directly. Fuel cells can also utilize fuel containing hydrogen,
including
methanol, ethanol, natural gas, and even gasoline or diesel
fuel. Fuels
containing hydrogen generally require a "fuel reformer"
that extracts the
hydrogen. Energy also could be supplied by biomass, wind,
solar power or
other renewable sources. Fuel cells today are running on many
different
fuels, even gas from landfills and wastewater treatment plants.
A fuel cell will produce energy in the form of electricity
and heat as long
as fuel is supplied. In a fuel cell car, the emissions is
only water and ther are no unburned hydrocarbons being emitted.
Sources:
http://americanhistory.si.edu/csr/fuelcells/
http://www.fuelcells.org
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