I'm not sure about Ubuntu (Gnome). You could do this using KDE 4.x with any Linux distribution.
May be possible with Gnome 3. Since I'm a KDE user I know you could do this by Kubuntu.
You don't have to reverse engineering fuel cell. If you google bit there are lots of information about how to make your self. Hear few links you can take a look.
http://waterpoweredcar.com/
http://www.hydrogengenerator.cc/
http://www.umpquaenergy.com/0/11/50/1051108/store/hydrogengenerator/
If...