Energy carrier

An energy carrier is a substance or phenomenon that can be used to produce mechanical work or heat or to operate chemical or physical processes (ISO 13600).

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It is any system or substance that contains energy for conversion as usable energy later or somewhere else. This could be converted for use in, for example, an appliance or vehicle. Such carriers include springs, electrical batteries, capacitors, pressurized air, dammed water, hydrogen, petroleum, coal, wood, and natural gas.

Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier for use in distributing renewable energy. Electricity is used to produce hydrogen by electrolyzing water, which is then used to power a hydrogen vehicle. The power is later derived from the hydrogen in the car's fuel cell which recombines hydrogen and oxygen, producing electricity, heat, and water. This principle may be put to use in the production of heat and electricity in households. Currently both hydrogen cars and household generators are in small scale production and use.

Note that Coal, oil and natural gas are energy sources which were extracted from the earth. They already contain stores of energy previously "charged," whereas springs, batteries, hydrogen etc. typically contain energy derived from a power plant or solar panels.

Solar radiation is an energy carrier that is not an energyware.

See also

• Energyware
• Energy source

References

• "European Nuclear Society info pool/glossary: Energy carrier" [1]