Roger Golding, of the Australian National Hydrogen Association, and former councillor Paul Blyton have plans for a house powered by hydrogen fuel cells - and they want funding to build it.

Mr Golding, of Glen Alpine, and Mr Blyton, of Blairmont, want their hydrogen house to be built in Campbelltown.

But politicians and scientists are divided in their support.

Mr Golding and Mr Blyton believe their planned house could generate its own electricity without producing carbon dioxide emissions. Its only emissions would be recyclable water.

But the big catch is the funding.

They estimate it would cost more than $2 million to build.

''It's like DVDs - when they first hit the market you couldn't get one for under $1000 but now you can get them for under $100,'' Mr Blyton said.

Macarthur federal MP Pat Farmer is a supporter of the plan.

''I've endorsed this project in the past - I'll continue to do so,'' he said. ''If there is ever any federal money floating around for this type of venture then I will do my best to get it.''
Mr Farmer urged all Macarthur residents to get behind it.

''If you could get the land donated and some local builders involved, I think that it could be developed cheaply,'' he said.

Campbelltown state MP Graham West is also a supporter of hydrogen fuel cells.

''Personally, I would support any safe alternative, low emission form of energy,'' he said.

Campbelltown Council and the CSIRO, Australia's peak scientific body, are both far more sceptical.

''We still don't know enough about it yet [hydrogen fuel technology], but there are still some problems that need to be overcome by further research and development,'' Greens Cr Julie Bourke said.

The biggest problem is that hydrogen doesn't exist in a pure form on earth so it is extracted from water, gas and steam.

This means electricity has to be used to extract the hydrogen.

''We are still a long way off hydrogen technology being used as a replacement energy source. Personally, I would prefer to see the money spent on more research and development,'' CSIRO chief research scientist for energy technology, David Rand, said.

But Mr Farmer believes a local hydrogen house could help this development: ''This type of technology could be the way of the future but we won't know unless we can display its functionality.''