Reference: More Japanese join test of fuel of future, Bangkok Post, June 9, 2008

It is reported that Japan intends to use household fuel cells to "kick its addiction to fossil fuels" (More Japanese join test of fuel of future, Bangkok Post, June 9, 2008). It should be recognized in this context that these fuel cells run on natural gas and therefore they do not represent an alternative to fossil fuels. In this arrangement hydrogen is not a source of energy but a delivery mechanism. As for curbing greenhouse gas emissions, there is no real way around the stoichiometric relationships of methane combustion whether it is carried out in conventional engines or in fuel cells.

Cha-am Jamal
Thailand