Unraveling the Evolution of Green Hydrogen, From Its Inception in 1766 to Its Application in the Gremlin in 1972
In the 18th century, English scientist Henry Cavendish discovered hydrogen gas, which he named "inflammable air" due to its explosive properties. The French chemist Antoine Lavoisier later coined the term "hydrogen" in 1783, derived from Greek roots meaning "water-former," as hydrogen reacts with oxygen to create water. This marked the beginning of hydrogen's journey in the world of science and energy.
Fast forward to 1839, Welsh scientist Sir William Grove invented the first working fuel cell, known as Grove’s “Gas” Battery, which harnessed hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, producing only water as a byproduct. This early demonstration of hydrogen as a clean power source combined empirical science with practical application.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, hydrogen's role evolved amidst changing energy contexts. While the 20th century was dominated by oil and fossil fuels, hydrogen began to be seen again as a potential alternative, especially during wartime and energy crises, reflecting its technological promise despite infrastructural and economic challenges.
The notion of hydrogen-powered vehicles, such as the hydrogen-powered Gremlin concept, underscores the speculative techno-utopian ideal of clean, sustainable transport—part of a wider vision to transition from oil dependence to zero-emission energy systems inspired by earlier scientific breakthroughs.
In 1972, a hydrogen-powered AMC Gremlin was retrofitted at the University of California, Los Angeles, with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation. This modified American Motors Gremlin rolled across a California tarmac, marking one of the earliest instances of hydrogen being used in transportation. However, public reception to the hydrogen-powered Gremlin was muted, with oil still being cheap and the OPEC embargo a year away.
The postwar period, especially during the oil crises of the 1970s, witnessed growing interest in a hydrogen economy, in which renewable electricity would be used to electrolyze water, producing hydrogen for storage and eventual use in transportation and power generation.
Despite its potential, hydrogen's practical barriers (storage, transport, and cost) remained unresolved throughout the 20th century, preventing widespread adoption in energy applications. The hydrogen Gremlin revealed both the promise and precarity of hydrogen energy, highlighting its infrastructural, political, and cultural challenges.
As we move into the 21st century, hydrogen reemerges in the modern age as a beacon of clean energy potential, particularly in its so-called "green" form, amidst climate anxiety and decarbonization imperatives. The flame Cavendish lit in the 18th century still burns, albeit faintly, as the 21st century looks again to green hydrogen as a viable solution for a sustainable future.
References: 1. Hydrogen Energy: A History 2. The History of Hydrogen Energy 3. Hydrogen: The History of a Fuel
In the 21st century, the narrative surrounding hydrogen has shifted towards its potential role in addressing climate-change and environmental-science concerns, with renewable-energy sources powering the production of green hydrogen. The finance sector is increasingly recognizing the importance of investing in hydrogen, especially as it relates to the development of the hydrogen industry and transitioning to a zero-emission energy system. Amidst these developments, the historical milestones in hydrogen energy, chronicled in resources such as 'Hydrogen Energy: A History', 'The History of Hydrogen Energy', and 'Hydrogen: The History of a Fuel', serve as reminders of the ongoing ambitions and challenges in harnessing the clean power source from centuries ago.
