The invention provides a controlled hypergolic approach to using concentrated hydrogen peroxide in combination with certain hydrocarbons such as ethanol, methanol, methane as well as more common fuels such as gasoline, diesel, DME, JP5, JP8 and the like to generate a gas mixture primarily composed of hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Because air is not used as the oxygen source, this novel process does not allow the formation of nitrous oxide (NOx) compounds, thereby avoiding the primary source of nitrogen contamination as well. The process is executed in a constraining system on a micro scale such that the resulting hydrogen supply is self-pressurizing. This enables the incorporation of an "on-demand" hydrogen fuel source for a variable output fuel cell power plant such as those proposed for use in automobiles, marine vessels and stationary power sources. In another embodiment of the present invention hydrogen peroxide is catalytically, or thermally reacted to provide H.sub.2O vapor and O.sub.2. When this gaseous stream is introduced to the cathode of the fuel cell, the percent concentration of oxygen is increased with no corresponding increase in the parasitic power demand made by an air-moving device. This use of H.sub.2O.sub.2 as an oxygen source may be continuous, intermittent or limited to specific instances when peak power output demands or high transient loads are placed upon the FCPS.