AS the world’s supply of fossil fuels continues to dwindle, corporations and governments have turned their attention to searching for replacements for coal, oil and gas. We have long been familiar with renewable, green energy sources like solar, wind or hydroelectric power. Looming silently in the background of all these potential solutions is hydrogen gas.

Hydrogen, the most fundamental element in the universe, is the origin of all solar energy. As well as providing us with heat and light through nuclear fusion processes in the sun’s core, hydrogen has many uses for energy production and storage.

Like electricity, hydrogen is an “energy vector” — an energy-rich substance that facilitates the translocation and/or storage of energy to be released at a later time or at a distance from the primary capture site.