Hydrogen Energy Report

8/8/2019 Hydrogen Energy Report

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UNIDO-ICHET

Hydrogen EnergyReport2010

Enes UGUR

20.02.2010


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ContentsContents ................................................................................................................. 2

Combating Climate Change with Hydrogen Energy ................................................ 3

Roadmaps of Countries .......................................................................................... 4

European Commission ......................................................................................... 4

United States ....................................................................................................... 6

Germany ............................................................................................................. 8

Canada .............................................................................................................. 10

Japan ................................................................................................................. 11

Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 12

References ........................................................................................................ 13


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Combating Climate Change with Hydrogen Energy

Energy is the very lifeblood of todays society and economy. Our work, leisure,

and our economic, social and physical welfare all depend on the sufficient,uninterrupted supply of energy. Yet we take it for granted and energy demand

continues to grow, year after year. Traditional fossil energy sources such as oil

are ultimately limited and the growing gap between increasing demand and

shrinking supply will, in the not too distant future, have to be met increasingly

from alternative primary energy sources. We must strive to make these more

sustainable to avoid the negative impacts of global climate change, the growing

risk of supply disruptions, price volatility and air pollution that are associated with

todays energy systems. The energy policy of the European Commission(1)

advocates securing energy supply while at the same time reducing emissions

that are associated with climate change. This calls for immediate actions topromote greenhouse gas emissions-free energy sources such as renewable

energy sources, alternative fuels for transport and to increase energy efficiency.

On the technology front, hydrogen, a clean energy carrier that can be produced

from any primary energy source, and fuel cells which are very efficient energy

conversion devices, are attracting the attention of public and private authorities.

Hydrogen and fuel cells, by enabling the so-called hydrogen economy, hold great

promise for meeting in a quite unique way, our concerns over security of supply

and climate change.

Hydrogen is not a primary energy source like coal and gas. It is an energy carrier.Initially, it will be produced using existing energy systems based on different

conventional primary energy carriers and sources. In the longer term, renewable

energy sources will become the most important source for the production of

hydrogen. Regenerative hydrogen, and hydrogen produced from nuclear sources

and fossil-based energy conversion systems with capture, and safe storage

(sequestration) of CO2 emissions, are almost completely carbon-free energy

pathways.

Fuel cells will be used in a wide range of products, ranging from very small fuel

cells in portable devices such as mobile phones and laptops, through mobileapplications like cars, delivery vehicles, buses and ships, to heat and power

generators in stationary applications in the domestic and industrial sector. Future

energy systems will also include improved conventional energy converters

running on hydrogen (e.g. internal combustion engines and turbines) as well as

other energy carriers (e.g. direct heat and electricity from renewable energy, and

bio-fuels for transport).

The benefits of hydrogen and fuel cells are wide ranging, but will not be fully

apparent until they are in widespread use. With the use of hydrogen in fuel-cell

systems there are very low to zero carbon emissions and no emissions of harmful

ambient air substances like nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide or carbonmonoxide. Because of their low noise and high power quality, fuel cell systems


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are ideal for use in hospitals or IT centres, or for mobile applications. They offer

high efficiencies which are independent of size. Fuel-cell electric-drive trains can

provide a significant reduction in energy consumption and regulated emissions.

Fuel cells can also be used as Auxiliary Power Units (APU) in combination with

internal combustion engines, or in stationary back-up systems when operated

with reformers for on-board conversion of other fuels saving energy andreducing air pollution, especially in congested urban traffic.

Hydrogen can be produced from carbon-free or carbon-neutral energy sources or

from fossil fuels with CO2 capture and storage (sequestration). Thus, the use of

hydrogen could eventually eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from the energy

sector. Fuel cells provide efficient and clean electricity generation from a range of

fuels. They can also be sited close to the point of end-use, allowing exploitation

of the heat generated in the process.

In brief, hydrogen and electricity together represent one of the most promising

ways to realize sustainable energy, whilst fuel cells provide the most efficient

conversion device for converting hydrogen, and possibly other fuels, into

electricity. Hydrogen and fuel cells open the way to integrated open energy

systems that simultaneously address all of the major energy and environmental

challenges, and have the flexibility to adapt to the diverse and intermittent

renewable energy sources.

In this report, we will discuss roadmaps of some countries for hydrogen energy to

show transition of them to hydrogen economy.

Roadmaps of Countries

European Commission

Moving Europe away from its 20th century dependency on fossil fuels to an era

powered by the complementary energy carriers, electricity and hydrogen, will

require careful strategic planning. Hydrogen is not likely to be the only fuel for

transport in future. Moreover, maintaining economic prosperity during the

transition period will involve maximizing the efficient use of various forms of

fossil-based energy carriers and fuels such as natural gas, methanol, coal, and

synthetic liquid fuels derived from natural gas. During that time it will also beimportant to introduce renewable energy sources such as biomass, organic

material mainly produced by the agriculture and forestry sectors that can be

used to generate heat, electricity, and a range of fuels such as synthetic liquid

fuels and hydrogen. Where appropriate, traditional forms of electricity generation

can be harnessed to produce hydrogen through the electrolysis of water, while

employing new, safe technologies and renewable sources to minimize harmful

emissions of greenhouse gasses and pollutants. Throughout the period,

electricity from renewable energy sources can be increasingly used to generate

hydrogen. The ability to store hydrogen more easily than electricity opens up

interesting possibilities for storing energy, helping to level the peaks and troughsexperienced in the electricity generating industry. Hydrogen fuelling stations can


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be erected, using locally or industrially produced hydrogen. Given the complex

range of options, a framework for the introduction of hydrogen and fuel cells

needs to be established. This transition should be executed progressively along

the following broad lines:

In the short and medium term (to 2010):

Intensify the use of renewable energy sources for electricity which can be used

to produce hydrogen by electrolysis or fed directly into electricity supply grids;

Improve the efficiency of fossil-based technologies and the quality of fossil-

based liquid fuels;

Increase the use of synthetic liquid fuels produced from natural gas and

biomass, which can be used in both conventional combustion systems and fuel-

cell systems;

Introduce early applications for hydrogen and fuel cells in premium niche

markets, stimulating the market, public acceptance and experience through

demonstration, and taking advantage of existing hydrogen pipeline systems; and

Develop hydrogen-fuelled IC engines for stationary and transport applications,

supporting the early deployment of a hydrogen infrastructure, providing they do

not increase the overall CO2 burden.

Considerable fundamental research is needed throughout this period, on key

technology bottlenecks, e.g. hydrogen production, storage and safety, and fuel

cell performance costs and durability.

In the medium term (to 2020):

Continue increasing the use of liquid fuels from biomass;

Continue using fossil-based liquid and gaseous fuels in fuel cells directly, and

reforming fossil fuels (including coal) to extract hydrogen. This enables transition

to a hydrogen economy, capturing and sequestering the CO2. The hydrogen thus

produced can then be used in suitably modified conventional combustion

systems, hydrogen turbines and fuel-cell systems, reducing greenhouse gas and

pollutant emissions; and

Develop and implement systems for hydrogen production from renewable

electricity, and biomass; continue research and development of other carbon-free

sources, such as solar thermal and advanced nuclear.

In the medium to long term (beyond 2020):

Demand for electricity will continue to grow, and hydrogen will complement it.

Use both electricity and hydrogen together as energy carriers to replace the

carbon-based energy carriers progressively by the introduction of renewable

energy sources and improved nuclear energy. Expand hydrogen distributionnetworks. Maintain other environmentally benign options for fuels.


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United States

Funding for the EERE hydrogen technology program in the 09 Budget is $146

million. The hydrogen technology program is tasked with developing hydrogen

production, storage, and delivery and fuel cell technologies. Current research

aims to enable industry to commercialize a hydrogen infrastructure and fuel cell

vehicles by 2020.

In 2001, the U.S. Department of Energy held a meeting of 53 senior executives

representing energy and transportation industries, universities, environmental

organizations, federal and state agencies and national laboratories to discuss the

potential role of hydrogen systems in Americas energy future. Billed as a forum

to create a national vision for hydrogen, the meetings participants discussed the

timeframe and key milestones that would have to be met for hydrogen to

become a premier energy carrier. The five major findings of the report are quoted

verbatim below:Hydrogen has the potential to solve two major energy challenges


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that confront America today: reducing dependence on petroleum imports and

reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

There is general agreement that hydrogen could play an increasingly important

role in Americas energy future. Hydrogen is an energy carrier that provides a

future solution for America. The complete transition to a hydrogen economycould take several decades.

The transition toward a so-called hydrogen economy has already begun. We

have a hydrocarbon economy, but we lack the know-how to produce hydrogen

from hydrocarbons and water, and deliver it to consumers in a clean, affordable,

safe, and convenient manner as an automotive fuel or for power generation.

The technology readiness of hydrogen energy systems needs to be

accelerated, particularly in addressing the lack of efficient, affordable production

processes; lightweight, small volume, and affordable storage devices; and cost-

competitive fuel cells.

There is a chicken-and-egg issue regarding the development of a hydrogen

energy infrastructure. Even when hydrogen utilization devices are ready for

broad market applications, if consumers do not have convenient access to

hydrogen as they have with gasoline, electricity, or natural gas today, then the

public will not accept hydrogen as Americas clean energy choice.

Figure summarizes DOEs vision of the transition to a hydrogen economy.


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Germany

The German government invests additional 500 million in demonstration

activities and the market preparation for hydrogen and fuel cell technology

(responsibility: Federal Ministry for Transport, Building and Urban Development)

on top of already ongoing R&D programmes (responsibility: Federal Ministry of

Economics). Together with the industry investments will add up to more than 1,4

billion over ten years 2007-2016).

Politics, industry and science together have defined the necessary steps for the

implementation of the NIP in the National Development Plan.

Development Plans for

Transportation


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Stationary Home Energy Supply

Stationary Industry Energy Supply


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Canada

Fuel Cells for Portable Electronics Should be First (20092013)

Power hungry handheld devices incorporating G3 wireless protocols andsupporting broad multimedia capabilities, including streaming video, video-phoneand GPS, are creating an energy gap. Today, high-end users are compelled tocarry replacement batteries. With the power demand projected to quadruple overthe next four years, micro fuel cells that provide higher energy density and canbe refuelled in ten minutes or less will become a viable replacement for lithiumion batteries.

To participate in this potential mass market application, Canadian companiesdeveloping fuel cells for portable electronics will need to ally themselves with the

battery companies that presently provide the micro-power solutions for mobilephones, laptop computers, and other portable electronic devices.

Residential Co-gen will Emerge in Certain Countries (20122017)

The residential co-gen market for fuel cell systems is being driven by governmentsupport in Japan and, more recently, South Korea. Participation by Canadianindustry will be through partnerships with organizations based in those countries.

The technology, manufacturing and supply chain knowledge they developthrough those relationships should strengthen their competitiveness in othernear-term markets, such as backup power, materials handling, and buses, andthus further position them to be suppliers when the mass market in cars begins

to happen.

Although the residential co-gen system is unlikely to become common in NorthAmerica because of the low cost of electricity, the very low cost reformer sub-system could be deployed in homes as hydrogen refuelling systems for cars, andfuel cell systems for portable electronics.

Fuel Cells in Cars as the ZEV End-game for Plug-in Hybrids (20152025)

Full-performance, zero-emission, sustainable mobility, is the end-game forautomotive OEMs. GM, Toyota, Ford, Daimler and Honda are developing a

portfolio of sustainable mobility solutions ranging from bio-fueled ICEs, throughhybrids and plug-in hybrids, to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. This scenario presentsopportunities to leverage synergies between emerging plug-in hybrid vehicletechnology and the "heavy-hybrid" fuel cell solutions being deployed in thematerials handling and bus markets. Canadian companies participating in thesenear-term markets will have to develop the technologies and talent pool to besuccessful participants in automotive "end-game".


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Japan

By far the most ambitious to accelerate the development of a full-scale hydrogen

economy is Japan. That is because, of all the developed countries, Japan is the

one most dependent on foreign oil imports. As the sixth largest oil consuming

country in the world with only a small trace of oil within its own boundaries, Japan

believes gaining independence from foreign oil as a matter of national priority. In

2002, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) launched a

comprehensive program that envisions a full commercialization of fuel cells and

hydrogen-infrastructure by 2020. To obtain this, the Japanese government has

allocated $4 billion with $250 million set aside for research and development in

the next five years [1]. Japans advantage comes from its highly developed auto

industry. In addition to the two government programs involved, METI and NEDO

(New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization), Japans

major automakers such as Toyota, Nissan and Honda are all competing to

develop the first commercially viable fuel-cell vehicle.

The Road Map

Japans road map to a full-fledge hydrogen economy has three phases. Thedemonstration phase, which has been ongoing since the 1980s, was to developthe necessary technology, demonstrate fuel cells, and to establish the codes andstandards needed for commercialization. The second phase, which the Japanesegovernment projects will last until 2010, is to introduce fuel cells into the energyand transportation sector. By 2010, Japan expects to have 50,000 fuel cellvehicles on the road and 2.1 GW of stationary fuel cells in operation. The final

phase of the road map, which is projected for the period between 2010-2020 is topropagate hydrogen technology. By 2020, Japan hopes to have 5,000,000 fuelcell vehicles, 4,000 hydrogen filling stations and 10 GW of stationary fuel cellcogeneration plants.

Fuel Cell Commercialization and Diffusion Scenario

1: 2005 to 2010 (Introduction stage) Acceleration of the Introduction and Gradual Establishment of Fuel SupplySystem Leadership of Public Sectors as well as FC Industries in Promotion of FCV and

Buses

2: 2010 to 2020 (Diffusion stage) Establishment of Fuel Supply System and Self-sustained Growth of the Market Private Sectors Promotion of the Introduction

3: 2020 to 2030 (Penetration stage) Hydrogen Supply Infrastructure across the Country with 8500 Fuelling Stations Combined Cycle Fuels Cells in Practical Stage


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Conclusion


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References

[1] Hydrogen energy and fuel cells a vision of our future, European Commission,

Directorate-General for Research, 2003, Directorate-General for Energy and

Transport, http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/energy/pdf/h2fuell_cell_en.pdf

[2]
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/energy/pdf/h2fuell_cell_en.pdfhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/research/energy/pdf/h2fuell_cell_en.pdf

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