As countries continue to expand the mainstream use of hydrogen, the development of a practical method of dispensing hydrogen must also be developed. The typical infrastructure for the distribution of fossil fuel products is not necessary for hydrogen, since it does not require extensive processing similar to that of fossil fuels. In fact, hydrogen can be produced and dispensed at the same location. The production of hydrogen from a domestically available renewable resource at an efficient and economical rate will provide the coming “Hydrogen Economy” with its own set of financial and environmental benefits.

To accomplish this, the foundations to achieve this global objective must be, as they are in petroleum products, well established. In the case of viable hydrogen feedstock materials, these foundations are already in existence, and in many places, have been for hundreds of years. They are the infrastructure that comprises the solid waste management industry.

By using this simple and natural existing infrastructure that collects, sorts, and recycles waste in any country, the feedstock to produce hydrogen is readily quantifiable. This is the very material that is deposited in landfills, or is burned or incinerated to eliminate it from the ecosystem, leaving only the worst traces of it behind – in our air and water and earth. This feedstock will serve us far better if it is used for the production of hydrogen, in the very places that collect it near population centers. This conversion of waste into hydrogen and its subsequent use will eliminate or reduce the use of conventional fuels for transporting it to landfills. It will also allow the dispensing of hydrogen right at the collection center.

The solutions approach of W2E provides the integration of technologies for a sustainable use of any biomass or any solid waste material to manufacture this renewable fuel at the clients’ facility.