But I think it has to be that way. Hydrogen may be the lightest, most abundant element in the universe, but it has a public relations problem that rivals uranium. Start talking about putting hydrogen bottles in cars or basements and most people envision the Hinderburg curling in flames or old film reels of an H-bomb rippling across the upper atmosphere. But Smith contends that while hydrogen can be dangerous, like propane or gasoline, unlike those fuels, hydrogen can be held safely in a metallic powder, called a hydride tank. That technique that may prove most popular for the consumer market, Smith says, since when hydrogen gas is bound by certain metals, it is rendered incombustible.
People don t like the idea of a hydrogen tank in their backyard.
It is very safe. You could even put a hand grenade in the tank. The grenade would blow up, but not the hydrogen. Hydrogen may be safe and clean, but its greatest promise is its ability to store energy. Instead of having power plants spin their wheels at off peak times, that otherwise wasted electricity could be used to make hydrogen for future use.