The effect of hydrogen activation by metal hydrides is considered. It is established that activated hydrogen exists in different forms: in the form of excited H2 molecules, excited hydrogen atoms and positive ions. To study the activation of hydrogen, various methods of mass spectrometry were used. The reasons for the formation of activated hydrogen in interaction with hydride-forming materials are discussed. For hydride-forming materials, one of the possible factors leading to the activation of hydrogen followed by desorption into the gas phase is isobaric hysteresis. Hysteresis in metal-hydrogen systems occurs when the pressure of hydride formation is higher than the pressure of its decomposition. The use of the phenomenon of metal hydride activation can improve the energy characteristics of virtually all types of energy-converting devices using hydrogen as a working fluid. This effect can be used in reactions of heterogeneous catalysis, in particular, in the ignition of hydrogen-oxygen mixtures, in devices using hydrogen as a working medium, as an environmentally friendly energy carrier in engines or in power and electro-physical facilities. It is shown both experimentally and theoretically that the use of atoms and excited hydrogen molecules as an activation ionic additive to traditional fuels leads not only to saving the latter but also to reducing the content of toxic products in the exhaust gases. A small (0.5 %) admixture of atomic hydrogen in the combustion zone is just as effective as the addition of 10 – 12 % of ordinary molecular hydrogen. The use of excitation energy for nonequilibrium states of hydrogen appears to be one of the most promising ways to solve the problem of increasing the efficiency of energy equipment and improving its environmental characteristics.