Air Force Aims at Hydrogen Use

Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii is expanding its efforts in pursuing use of energy sources other than fossil fuels. Why is this kind of move important? Simple: The Air Force is the largest consumer of petroleum products in the Department of Defense, and dependence on fossil fuels is a nationwide problem. It's even more of a strategic issue with the military.

One of the first examples of this effort is a recently-opened hydrogen fueling station that's part of a joint effort between the Air Force Advanced Power Technology Ofice and the Hawaiian Center for Advanced Transportation Technology. As the leaders of this program like to point out, the hydrogen station has the ability to be packed up and deployed anywhere in the world, just like the Air Force itself. Plus, the system allows hydrogen to be generated from a safe location with filled hydrogen vessels transported on a C-17 or other transport to wherever hydrogen fuel is needed in the theater of battle.