Hydrogen Economy

As a fuel source and an energy carrier, hydrogen -- the most abundant element in the universe -- is beginning to move from science fiction and basic research to the world’s warehouses, airports, cell phone towers and highways. Hydrogen is the most versatile of renewable energy resources -- a universal fuel that can be burned in an engine or integrated into a fuel cell to power vehicles, buildings and homes, utility power plants and anything else that uses electrical energy. When burned in an engine, hydrogen is about 30 percent more efficient than gasoline. When a fuel cell is used to power a vehicle, the fuel cell is 100 percent to 200 percent more efficient than gasoline. Hydrogen engines do not emit carbon dioxide, and the only byproduct of fuel cells is clean water.

2006: U.S.-EU Summit Declaration (Jun 21, 2006) | Bush Sets Alternative Energy Goals (Feb 1, 2006) | Energy's Bodman Puts Up Money To Advance Hydrogen Vehicles (Jan 27, 2006)

2005: U.S. Energy Department Sets Plan on Zero-Emissions Power Plant (Dec 7, 2005) | United States, Germany Working To Improve Energy Security (Feb 23, 2005)

2004: International Partnership for Hydrogen Economy Closes First Year (Dec 6, 2004) | Ongoing U.S.-EU Cooperation on Hydrogen Technology Pledged (Jun 27, 2004) | Global Cooperation, Research Key to Solving Energy Challenges (May 21, 2004)

President Bush, Greek Prime Minister Konstandinos Simitis, the president of the European Council, and Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, issued a joint statement June 25 affirming the commitment of the United States and European Union "to collaborate on accelerating the development of the hydrogen economy as part of our broadening cooperation on energy."

2003: Joint Statement on Development of Hydrogen Economy (Jun 25, 2003) | U.S.-EU Cooperation on Hydrogen Energy (Jun 25, 2003) | Abraham Speech at EU Conference on Hydrogen (Jun 16, 2003) | U.S., EU to Cooperate on Hydrogen Energy Research (Mar 7, 2003)