Hydrogen Production

Hydrogen can be produced using diverse, domestic resources including fossil fuels, such as natural gas and coal (with carbon sequestration); nuclear; and biomass and other renewable energy technologies, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and hydro-electric power.

The overall challenge to hydrogen production is cost reduction. For transportation, a key driver for energy independence and therefore the hydrogen economy, hydrogen must be cost-competitive with conventional fuels and technologies on a per-mile basis in order to succeed in the commercial marketplace.

The U.S. Department of Energy supports the research and development of a wide range of technologies to produce hydrogen economically and in environmentally friendly ways.

Hydrogen Storage

Developing safe and reliable hydrogen storage technologies that meet performance and cost requirements is critical to achieving a future hydrogen economy. Hydrogen storage will be needed for both vehicular applications and off-board uses such as for stationary power generation and for hydrogen delivery and refueling infrastructure. The ability to carry enough hydrogen on-board a vehicle to enable a driving range of greater than 300 miles, within packaging and cost constraints, is the focus of the DOE’s Hydrogen Storage activities.

In order to meet these critical needs, DOE has established a “National Hydrogen Storage Project” that is funding research and development on various technologies such as advanced high-capacity metal hydrides, carbon-based and high surface area sorbents, as well as chemical hydrogen storage and new materials and concepts.

Hydrogen Delivery

A hydrogen economy requires an infrastructure to deliver hydrogen from where it’s produced to the point of end-use, such as a dispenser at a refueling station or stationary power site. Infrastructure includes the pipelines, trucks, storage facilities, compressors, and dispensers involved in the process of delivering fuel.

Fuel Cells

Fuel cells are an important enabling technology for the hydrogen economy and have the potential to revolutionize the way we power our nation, offering cleaner, more-efficient alternatives to the combustion of gasoline and other fossil fuels. Fuel cells have the potential to replace the internal combustion engine in vehicles and provide power in stationary and portable power applications because they are energy-efficient, clean, and fuel-flexible. Hydrogen or any hydrogen-rich fuel can be used by this emerging technology.

DOE is working closely with its national laboratories, universities, and industry partners to overcome critical technical barriers to fuel cell commercialization. Current R&D focuses on the development of reliable, low-cost, high-performance fuel cell system components for transportation and buildings applications.

Challenges

Challenges

Technology Validation addresses the following key challenges to pave the way for commercialization of fuel cell and hydrogen infrastructure technologies:

• Fuel Cell Cost and Durability. Statistical data for fuel cell vehicles that are operated under controlled, real-world conditions is very limited and often proprietary. Vehicle drivability, operation, and survivability in extreme climates, and emissions (hydrogen ICE) have not yet been proven. Development and testing of complete integrated fuel cell power systems is required to benchmark and validate for optimal component development.
• Hydrogen Storage. Statistical cost, durability, fast-fill, discharge performance, and structural integrity data of hydrogen storage systems will be needed to proceed with technology commercialization. Current technology does not provide reasonable cost and volume for transportation or stationary applications. An understanding of composite tank operating cycle life and failure due to accident or neglect is lacking. Cycle life of hydride storage systems need to be evaluated in real-world circumstances.
• Hydrogen Production and Delivery. The high cost of hydrogen production, low availability of the hydrogen production systems, and the challenge of providing safe production and delivery systems are early penetration barriers. There are few data on the cost, efficiencies, and availabilities of integrated coal-to-hydrogen/power plants with sequestration options. Data on the high-temperature production of hydrogen from nuclear power are limited. Likewise, there is little operational, durability, and efficiency information for renewable hydrogen production systems. Hydrogen delivery options need to be determined and assessed as part of system demonstrations for every potential production technology. Validation of integrated systems is required to optimize component development.
• Public Acceptance. The hydrogen economy will be a revolutionary change from the world we know today. Education of the general public, training personnel in the handling and maintenance of hydrogen system components, adoption of codes and standards, and development of certified procedures and training manuals for fuel cells and safety will foster hydrogen’s acceptance as a fuel.

Education

DOE supports demonstrations and commercialization by providing technically accurate and objective information to key target audiences involved in the use of hydrogen and fuel cells today.

Here you will find basic information resources to help you learn more about hydrogen—and Increase Your H₂IQ!—as well as course materials and links to additional information for safety and code officials, state and local government representatives, potential end users, and students and educators of all levels.

• Increase Your H₂IQ – Easy-to-understand fact sheets and other resources designed to introduce hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to non-technical audiences
• For Safety and Code Officials – Information on the safe use of hydrogen fuel
• For State and Local Governments – Initiatives, policies, programs, and partnerships that advance the use of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies
• For Early Adopters – Resources for “early adopters” of hydrogen technologies
• For Students and Educators – A compilation of lesson plans and classroom activities, as well as information about workshops, competitions, scholarships, and internships
• Careers in Hydrogen and Fuel Cells – Resources for people interested in pursuing careers related to hydrogen and fuel cells

Systems Analysis

Systems analysis provides direction, focus, and support for the development and introduction of hydrogen production, storage, and end-use technologies, and provides a basis for recommendations on a balanced portfolio of activities. All areas of the Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies Program-hydrogen, production, delivery, storage, fuel cells, technology validation, safety, and codes and standards-rely on the conclusions and recommendations drawn from systems analysis results to guide their R&D efforts.

A variety of analysis methodologies are used in combination to provide a sound understanding of hydrogen and fuel cell systems and markets from the basic resources required, to hydrogen production technology, to transportation and stationary applications. Realistic assumptions, both market- and technology-based, are critical to an accurate analytical study. DOE’s H2A Analysis Group is developing the common bases for analyzing alternatives at the system, technology or component level in terms of cost, performance, benefit, and risk impact.

The Hydrogen Analysis Resource Center provides consistent and transparent data that can serve as the basis for hydrogen-related calculations, modeling, and other analytical activities. Its Hydrogen Data Book offers a wide range of information about hydrogen and fuel cells, with a focus on hydrogen properties, hydrogen production and delivery data, and fuel cell vehicles.

Current Technology

The development of clean, sustainable, and cost-competitive hydrogen production processes are key to a viable future hydrogen economy. Hydrogen production technologies fall into three general categories:

• Thermal Processes
• Electrolytic Processes
• Photolytic Processes

Thermal Processes

Some thermal processes use the energy in various resources, such as natural gas, coal, or biomass, to release hydrogen, which is part of their molecular structure. In other processes, heat, in combination with closed chemical cycles, produces hydrogen from feedstocks such as water – these are known as “thermochemical” processes.

• Reforming of Natural Gas
• Gasification of Coal
• Gasification of Biomass
• Reforming of Renewable Liquid Fuels
• High-temperature Water Splitting

Electrolytic Processes

Electrolytic processes use electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, a process that takes place in an electrolyzer. Hydrogen produced via electrolysis can result in zero greenhouse gas emissions, depending on the source of the electricity used. The source of the required electricity—including its cost and efficiency, as well as emissions resulting from electricity generation—must be considered when evaluating the benefits of hydrogen production via electrolysis. The two electrolysis pathways of greatest interest for wide-scale hydrogen production, which result in near-zero greenhouse gas emissions, are electrolysis using renewable sources of electricity and nuclear high-temperature electrolysis.

Photolytic Processes

Photolytic processes use light energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Currently in the very early stages of research, these processes offer long-term potential for sustainable hydrogen production with low environmental impact.

• Photobiological Water Splitting
• Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Source http://www1.eere.energy.gov/

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