Hydrogen as Hydrogen as Fuel: A Plausible Fuel: A Plausible

Alternative?Alternative?Tom MadoreTom Madore

IntroductionIntroduction Hydrogen fuel cell cars release essentially Hydrogen fuel cell cars release essentially

“zero” pollution emissions other than warm “zero” pollution emissions other than warm water, making them environmentalists’ water, making them environmentalists’ ultimate dream.ultimate dream.

A transition to hydrogen fuel cells could A transition to hydrogen fuel cells could reduce the United States’ overall carbon reduce the United States’ overall carbon dioxide production by up to one third.dioxide production by up to one third.

From a political perspective, hydrogen fuel From a political perspective, hydrogen fuel cells would reduce our country’s dependence cells would reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil.on foreign oil.

However, there are many current problems However, there are many current problems with the potential use of hydrogen as a with the potential use of hydrogen as a mainstream energy source, such as deriving it mainstream energy source, such as deriving it in its pure form, building an infrastructure for in its pure form, building an infrastructure for its transportation and usage, and storing it.its transportation and usage, and storing it.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells: An Hydrogen Fuel Cells: An OverviewOverview

Similar to a battery.Similar to a battery. Chemical energy of a fuel is converted directly into electricity Chemical energy of a fuel is converted directly into electricity

without the ill effects (pollutants, inefficiencies) of without the ill effects (pollutants, inefficiencies) of combustion. combustion.

Unlike batteries, fuels cells use a constant external energy Unlike batteries, fuels cells use a constant external energy source. source.

Fuel cells are used in trains, planes, bikes, and vending Fuel cells are used in trains, planes, bikes, and vending machines.machines.

Daniel Kemman, UC Berkeley nuclear engineering professor, Daniel Kemman, UC Berkeley nuclear engineering professor, contends that “Fuel cells [when used in place of a gas contends that “Fuel cells [when used in place of a gas powered car engine] themselves are extremely efficient…powered car engine] themselves are extremely efficient…Right now they are around 50 percent efficient, compared to Right now they are around 50 percent efficient, compared to 33 percent for a regular gas turbine, but fuel cells could be 33 percent for a regular gas turbine, but fuel cells could be 80-90 percent efficient [in the future].”80-90 percent efficient [in the future].”

The problem with hydrogen fuel cells exists on the hydrogen The problem with hydrogen fuel cells exists on the hydrogen end of the spectrum, as in the derivation of hydrogen, etc. end of the spectrum, as in the derivation of hydrogen, etc.

The Case for HydrogenThe Case for Hydrogen President Bush declared a $1.2 billion investment in President Bush declared a $1.2 billion investment in

hydrogen fuel.hydrogen fuel. America’s “Energy Security,” is threatened by our America’s “Energy Security,” is threatened by our

dependence on foreign oil. Today, the U.S. imports dependence on foreign oil. Today, the U.S. imports 55% of the oil it consumes, and by 2025, and is 55% of the oil it consumes, and by 2025, and is expected to rise to 68%.expected to rise to 68%.

Transition to a hydrogen economy will cut America’s Transition to a hydrogen economy will cut America’s demand for foreign oil by around 11 million barrels demand for foreign oil by around 11 million barrels per day, which is approximately the amount of oil per day, which is approximately the amount of oil the U.S. imports today.the U.S. imports today.

Fossil fuelsFossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, which , such as coal, oil and natural gas, which are our primary sources of energy today, are are our primary sources of energy today, are inefficient, nonrenewable, and most importantly, inefficient, nonrenewable, and most importantly, release CO2 upon combustion. release CO2 upon combustion.

The Case for HydrogenThe Case for Hydrogen Today’s internal combustion engines also release carbon Today’s internal combustion engines also release carbon

monoxide, nitrous oxides, sulfur oxides, and particulate monoxide, nitrous oxides, sulfur oxides, and particulate matter.matter.

Hydrogen is an environmentally feasible alternative Hydrogen is an environmentally feasible alternative because it is clean, producing “zero” pollution emissions.because it is clean, producing “zero” pollution emissions.

The environmental utopian situation for hydrogen The environmental utopian situation for hydrogen derivation.derivation.

Current technology: production is more economically Current technology: production is more economically efficient if hydrogen is produced from abundant domestic efficient if hydrogen is produced from abundant domestic resources.resources.

If the related costs are reduced, then, David K. Garman If the related costs are reduced, then, David K. Garman of the U.S. Department of Energy, contends that the of the U.S. Department of Energy, contends that the transition to hydrogen fuel will “stimulate new markets transition to hydrogen fuel will “stimulate new markets and strengthen U.S. flexibility and economic resiliency in and strengthen U.S. flexibility and economic resiliency in many other sectors.”many other sectors.”

Current Problems with Current Problems with Hydrogen ProductionHydrogen Production

While hydrogen is the world’s most abundant While hydrogen is the world’s most abundant element, it does not exist in its natural state. Its element, it does not exist in its natural state. Its major industrial production today comes from a major industrial production today comes from a process known as the “steam reforming” of process known as the “steam reforming” of natural gas.natural gas.

This conversion from natural gas is costly and This conversion from natural gas is costly and produces some carbon dioxide.produces some carbon dioxide.

Producing hydrogen from any hydrocarbon fuel, Producing hydrogen from any hydrocarbon fuel, such as natural gas, or from biomass waste, in such as natural gas, or from biomass waste, in effect, still adds to the problem of the greenhouse effect, still adds to the problem of the greenhouse effect.effect.

Electrolysis, the process that separates water into Electrolysis, the process that separates water into hydrogen and water, via renewable energy hydrogen and water, via renewable energy sources is the environmentalists’ goal for the sources is the environmentalists’ goal for the generation of hydrogen.generation of hydrogen.

Current Problems with Current Problems with Hydrogen ProductionHydrogen Production

Today, electrolysis is powered by electricity. Today, electrolysis is powered by electricity. Currently, in the U.S. 50% of power-plants are coal-Currently, in the U.S. 50% of power-plants are coal-fired: in other words, electrolysis currently “totally fired: in other words, electrolysis currently “totally defeats the purpose in terms of greenhouse gas defeats the purpose in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.”emissions.”

Still appears that electrolysis is the best path for the Still appears that electrolysis is the best path for the future. future.

Ironically, Bush recommended cutting funding for Ironically, Bush recommended cutting funding for wind power by 5.5%.wind power by 5.5%.

Equally puzzling, Bush allotted $5 million towards Equally puzzling, Bush allotted $5 million towards researching ways of obtaining hydrogen from coal. researching ways of obtaining hydrogen from coal. As one critic stated, “None of this money should be As one critic stated, “None of this money should be going to coal. It’s like running to McDonald’s if you going to coal. It’s like running to McDonald’s if you want to lose weight.” want to lose weight.”

Bush also seems to believe that nuclear energy is the Bush also seems to believe that nuclear energy is the “most promising path for producing hydrogen.” “most promising path for producing hydrogen.”

Ideal Electrolysis ProcessIdeal Electrolysis Process

Problems with Safety Problems with Safety Storing/Transporting Storing/Transporting

HydrogenHydrogen Hydrogen has the highest energy content per gram of Hydrogen has the highest energy content per gram of

any known fuel, but it occupies a large volume, ~12 any known fuel, but it occupies a large volume, ~12 liters per gram.liters per gram.

In order to save space hydrogen needs to be converted In order to save space hydrogen needs to be converted to its liquid state to be transported. Must be to its liquid state to be transported. Must be cooled cooled before it liquefies, resulting in high costs.before it liquefies, resulting in high costs.

Question of transportation via existing or new pipelines. Question of transportation via existing or new pipelines. Estimated cost of creating an infrastructure suitable to Estimated cost of creating an infrastructure suitable to

the transportation of hydrogen is between $100 and the transportation of hydrogen is between $100 and $400 billion-- greater than the estimated cost of the $400 billion-- greater than the estimated cost of the current war in Iraq.current war in Iraq.

Engineers have to deal with safety issues associated Engineers have to deal with safety issues associated with hydrogen--reputation for explosiveness. For with hydrogen--reputation for explosiveness. For example, the few owners of hydrogen fuel cell cars example, the few owners of hydrogen fuel cell cars today are advised not to park their cars in their garage today are advised not to park their cars in their garage as a safety precaution.as a safety precaution.

What’s Next?What’s Next?

The future of hydrogen fuel is uncertain The future of hydrogen fuel is uncertain given the many current issues-- given the many current issues-- economic, environmental, and economic, environmental, and otherwise associated with its otherwise associated with its production, storage, and transportation.production, storage, and transportation.

Government needs to allocate its funds Government needs to allocate its funds in the right places.in the right places.

Short run vs. Long run implications. Short run vs. Long run implications. How to get from “here” to “there?”How to get from “here” to “there?”

Sources:Sources: Ball, Jeffery. “Green Dream. Hydrogen Fuel May Be Clean But Getting It Ball, Jeffery. “Green Dream. Hydrogen Fuel May Be Clean But Getting It

Here Here Looks Messy. Auto, Oil Companies Wrestle With Huge Costs to Looks Messy. Auto, Oil Companies Wrestle With Huge Costs to Build Delivery Build Delivery Infrastructure,” Wall Street Journal, Friday March 7, 2003.Infrastructure,” Wall Street Journal, Friday March 7, 2003.

Chemistry on Context, Applying Chemistry to Society, Fourth Edition. Chemistry on Context, Applying Chemistry to Society, Fourth Edition. (Chem.1 Text)(Chem.1 Text)

Federal Document Clearing House Congressional Testimony. March 5, Federal Document Clearing House Congressional Testimony. March 5, 2003, 2003, Wednesday. Headline: “Transition to a Hydrogen Economy,” Wednesday. Headline: “Transition to a Hydrogen Economy,” Testimony by: Testimony by: David K. Garman, Assistant Secretary. Affiliation: Energy David K. Garman, Assistant Secretary. Affiliation: Energy Efficiency and Efficiency and Renewable Energy.Renewable Energy.

Financial Times Information, Regulatory Intelligence Data, February 6, Financial Times Information, Regulatory Intelligence Data, February 6, 2003, “Fact 2003, “Fact Sheet: Hydrogen Fuel: A Clean and Secure Energy Sheet: Hydrogen Fuel: A Clean and Secure Energy Alternative.”Alternative.”

Lesher, Sarah. Science community divided over hydrogen. The Hill, pg. Lesher, Sarah. Science community divided over hydrogen. The Hill, pg. 21.21.

Mieszkowski, Katharine. “Not-so-clean Cars,” Copyright 2003 Salon.com, Mieszkowski, Katharine. “Not-so-clean Cars,” Copyright 2003 Salon.com, Inc., Feb. 25, Inc., Feb. 25, 2003 Tuesday.2003 Tuesday.

Reuters. “Fuel-cell vehicles not as green as hybrids, MIT study finds: Reuters. “Fuel-cell vehicles not as green as hybrids, MIT study finds: Alternative Alternative methods of making hydrogen still to expensive.” Friday, methods of making hydrogen still to expensive.” Friday, March 7, 2003.March 7, 2003.

Tyler, Anna. “Hydrogen Fuel Cells.” (Outline)Tyler, Anna. “Hydrogen Fuel Cells.” (Outline) http://www.solar-h.com/_private/shecfit.htmlhttp://www.solar-h.com/_private/shecfit.html