Skip to Content
U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Fuel Cell Animation (Text Version)

This text version of the fuel cell animation demonstrates how a fuel cell uses hydrogen to produce electricity, with only water and heat as byproducts.

 

U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies Program
Introduction ButtonModule 1 ButtonModule 2 ButtonModule 3 Button
Introduction

A fuel cell is a device that uses hydrogen (or hydrogen-rich fuel) and oxygen to create electricity. Fuel cells are more energy-efficient than combustion engines and the hydrogen used to power them can come from a variety of sources. If pure hydrogen is used as a fuel, fuel cells emit only heat and water, eliminating concerns about air pollutants or greenhouse gases.

 Fuel cell shown with its inputs and outputs. Hydrogen input on left, oxygen input on right, water and heat outputs on the back, with an electrical circuit going around the top.

continue