NOVELTY - Generating hydrogen involves contacting a fluid including a proton source and a dissolved transition metal salt with a solid hydrogen source disposed within a housing having an outlet to deliver the hydrogen to a hydrogen fuel cell. The contacting step includes introducing the fluid into a hydrogen generator. The hydrogen generator comprises the housing; the solid hydrogen source; and an inlet configured to guide the fluid to contact the solid hydrogen source. The solid hydrogen source includes a solid hydride (preferably sodium borohydride) optionally combined with a wicking material.    USE - For generating hydrogen for hydrogen fuel cell useful for powering portable consumer electronic devices.    ADVANTAGE - The hydrogen generator can have competitive volumetric and gravimetric capacities relative to other hydrogen sources. The solid hydrogen source increases the volumetric energy density of the generator in comparison to devices based on slurries or solutions of similar materials. The design of wicking regions in the solid hydrogen source can lead to more complete conversion of the materials contained within the generator to hydrogen gas. The hydrogen generator can provide fuel to a fuel cell safely and reliably, and in a controllable manner. The addition of a catalyst throughout the solid hydrogen can control or modulate hydrogen generation throughout the generator, which can decrease the overall running temperature of the generator, and improve safety factors. The components of the hydrogen generator can be relatively inexpensive, compared to the components of other hydrogen sources. The hydrogen generator can be an economical, compact, portable, and/or disposable source of hydrogen gas. The hydrogen generator based on a solid hydride can be of a low weight relative to hydrogen sources employing reversible metal hydride alloys. Electrochemical cell performance can be improved as well. The solid sodium borohydride to which twice the stoichiometric amount of water was added, has been calculated to yield over a 50% improvement in runtime when compared to lithium ion rechargeable batteries for powering portable consumer electronic devices, using practical numbers for fuel cell system components for such applications. In addition, the optimal solid hydride utilization can be balanced with minimal volume allotted for water infusion and hydrogen recovery, which can be adjusted or modified by the placement of various hydrophobic and wicking materials throughout a solid hydride matrix. This can allow improved utilization of reactants and improved control of hydrogen generation rate.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Generating hydrogen involves contacting a fluid including a proton source and a dissolved transition metal salt with a solid hydrogen source disposed within a housing having an outlet configured to deliver the hydrogen to a hydrogen fuel cell. The contacting step includes introducing the fluid into a hydrogen generator. The hydrogen generator comprises the housing; the solid hydrogen source; and an inlet configured to guide the fluid to contact the solid hydrogen source. The solid hydrogen source includes a solid hydride (preferably sodium borohydride) optionally combined with a wicking material. The solid hydride is a pellet, tablet, cylinder, layer, or tube.