Fuel cells operate best on pure hydrogen. The interesting thing about the first option is that it is the core of the real hydrogen economy. Thermochemical processes use heat and chemical reactions to release hydrogen from organic materials such as fossil fuels and biomass. Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of domestic resources, such as natural gas, nuclear power, biomass, and renewable power like solar and wind. Hydrogen fuel cell features. Both convert the energy produced by a chemical reaction into usable electric power. “The hydrogen chain designed for the Race for Water vessel aims to demonstrate that today’s hydrogen technologies are mature, reliable and sustainable, both at sea and on land” Alexandre Closset, Business Line Director at Plastic Omnium. However, the fuel cell will produce electricity as long as fuel (hydrogen) is supplied, never losing its charge. A fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat, and water. Hydrogen fuel can also be used for backup power during storms. Hydrogen production is the family of industrial methods for generating hydrogen.As of 2018, the majority of hydrogen (∼95%) is produced from fossil fuels by steam reforming of natural gas, partial oxidation of methane and coal gasification.Other methods of hydrogen production include biomass gasification and electrolysis of water. Fuel cells are often compared to batteries. While many people think first about hydrogen when they think of fuel cells, fuel cells are not limited to hydrogen. Hydrogen and Fuel Cells - Production. Most of today's hydrogen is produced from natural gas, which is only an interim solution since it discards 30% of the energy in one valuable but depletable fuel (natural gas) to obtain 70% of another (hydrogen). Are hydrogen fuel cells in use today? The Power of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology. Water (H 2 O) can be split into hydrogen (H 2) and oxygen (O 2) using electrolysis or solar energy. How is it made? Because fuel cell vehicles are only beginning to enter the US market, interested drivers should ensure they live near hydrogen refueling stations. The reason is because gasoline is an easily available source of hydrogen. NREL's hydrogen production and delivery research and development work focuses on biological water splitting, fermentation, conversion of biomass and wastes, photoelectrochemical water splitting, solar thermal water splitting, renewable electrolysis, hydrogen dispenser hose reliability, and hydrogen production and delivery pathway analysis. But fuels like natural gas, methanol, or even gasoline can be reformed to produce the hydrogen required for fuel cells. Is hydrogen fuel the future of car fuel? A PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) cell uses hydrogen gas (H 2) and oxygen gas (O 2) as fuel.The products of the reaction in the cell are water, electricity, and heat. Some fuel cells even can be fueled directly with methanol, without using a reformer.