Hydrogen is neither more nor less hazardous than gasoline, propane, or methane. Like any flammable substance, it requires caution when using. Hydrogen has been safely produced, stored, transported, and used in large amounts for decades for a variety of purposes such as in agriculture, oil production and even food processing (ever heard of the term “hydrogenated?” – take a look at a jar of peanut butter or the wrapper of a Starburst).
To learn more about the benefits of hydrogen, please visit www.h2andyou.org.
==> “Hydrogen is neither more nor less hazardous than gasoline, propane, or methane. Like any flammable substance, it requires caution when using. Hydrogen has been safely produced, stored, transported, and used in large amounts for decades for a variety of purposes such as in agriculture, oil production and even food processing....” <==
This statement could not be more wrong, or more dangerous because of its falsehood.
First of all, hydrogen is chemically a very active METAL (electron donor), and as such it can dissolve into many metals that would have no problem containing something less chemically active. In addition, hydrogen is the lightest molecule in the universe, and therefore, on average, the fastest diffusing molecule at any temperature. Hydrogen will escape through ANY fault or flaw in its containment, and will penetrate, weaken, and diffuse through most metal tanks that would easily contain almost any other gas.
Second, hydrogen gas forms an explosive mixture in air at any level from 4% (LEL, or lower explosive limit) to 75% (UEL, or upper explosive limit. By comparison, gasoline vapor explosive range is 1.4% to 7.6%; propane, 2.2% to 9.5%; and natural gas, 4.8% to 13.5%.
So. Without extraordinary measures, hydrogen gas will tend to leak out of its containment and form a mixture in air which will be more likely to explode than any other gas.
And for what? Read my posts 7 and 25. Incredibly hazardous and difficult storage (totally impractical pressure [150-250 bar] or totally impractical temperature [-400F] and transport.
In fact, gasoline is the safest, easiest way to handle, transport, and store hydrogen for use as a fuel. 56% MORE hydrogen can be extracted from a gallon of gasoline without additional energy input than a gallon of pure liquid hydrogen, or the gasoline can be burned as fuel to produce 3.7 TIMES the BTU’s as burning an equal volume of liquid H2.