With the ongoing and increasing usage of energy in ways that increase global warming, arguably to the detriment of the environment, the challenge is to find solutions to this issue. This conflict of interests is exacerbated by the problem of the finite nature of fossil fuels and that alternative renewable fuels are currently more expensive. Rising energy prices and the fact that a large majority of fossil fuels are exported from politically unstable regions also needs to be considered as innovations in energy sources are explored.

All these issues have an effect on the individual through to national economies. In the view of many experts in the field, using hydrogen to produce energy for use in homes, buildings and for transport appears to be one alternative way forward.