US Department of Energy s Hydrogen Program Catherine Grégoire Padró Hydrogen Program Manager National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Hydrogen and U.S. National Energy Policy Hydrogen can play a unique role in a National energy strategy reducing energy supply disruptions increasing domestic energy choices increasing system efficiency and clean energy options creating new market opportunities enhancing economic competitiveness of U.S. industry
Hydrogen and U.S. National Energy Policy Recommendations develop next-generation technology - including hydrogen develop an education campaign that communicates the benefits of alternative forms of energy, including hydrogen focus R&D efforts on integrating current programs regarding hydrogen, fuel cells, and distributed energy
Hydrogen - now ~500 billion Nm 3 produced annually worldwide Nearly half (48%) is produced via steam reforming of natural gas Used to upgrade crude oil and in the chemical industry (methanol, ammonia, fertilizer, etc) NASA and other space agencies use hydrogen as fuel
Hydrogen - in the future As a chemical As a fuel for space exploration As a transportation fuel for fuel cell vehicles As an energy storage medium for intermittent renewables (wind and PV) As an energy carrier for supplying power, heat, and fuel for residential buildings
Hydrogen - in the meantime Hydrogen produced from natural gas will continue to provide cost-effective hydrogen to industry Transport of hydrogen via liquid tanker trucks or dedicated pipelines will provide fuel to emerging transportation applications Infrastructure development will continue, focusing on small-scale, onsite production of hydrogen
Natural Gas to Hydrogen Steam reforming is a wellknown, highly-profitable commercial process Captive and merchant hydrogen production is largely based on SMR Process is efficient at large scale
But CO 2 emissions are high Process does not scale down well Cleanup of hydrogen-rich gas is complex High level of heat integration may not be feasible at small scale
Maybe we can do better Research focused on improved production techniques using plentiful fossil fuels in new ways Reduced emissions and the use of renewable energy in the conversion process will provide green hydrogen from natural gas and coal
USDOE Hydrogen Program Program managed by the U.S. Department of Energy s Office of Power Technologies Team Leader - Sig Gronich R&D Program Manager - Neil Rossmeissl Tech Validation Program Manager - Chris Bordeaux Related activities supported by other offices within the U.S. DOE, as well as other federal agencies (NASA, DOT, Defense, National Science Foundation, etc)
Hydrogen R&D Program Historical Funding 45 40 Funding ($ 000,000) 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 Program transferred from NSF to DOE Hydrogen R&D Program becomes budget line item Matsunage Act Authorization Levels Hydrogen Future Act Authorization Levels 0 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 Fiscal Year
USDOE Hydrogen Program Funding Summary ($ 000) FY99 FY00 FY01 Core Research and 8,951 13,353 14,784 Development Technology Validation 10,856 8,754 9,009 Analysis and Outreach 2,169 2,480 3,147 Total 21,976 24,587 26,940
Hydrogen Program Structure Core R&D Production Storage Utilization Technology Validation Renewable Hydrogen Systems Hydrogen Infrastructure Analysis & Outreach Distributed/Remote Power Systems Analysis and Outreach Economic and Technical Assessments Operational Database on Validation Projects for Codes & Standards 11% 33% Technology Validation 56% Core R&D
1995: $28 - $35/MBtu Reduce Production Cost of Hydrogen Improve Efficiency Advanced Reformer Technology Design for Manufacturing Concepts Program Metrics SER Pilot Plant Air Products & Chemicals $6 - $8/MBtu 2020 5.5% system wt (5.5-10% Hydride to CG) Reversible Fuel Cell National Power $300/kW - PEM Electrolyzer $600/kW - Reversible FC 1995: $10,000/kW Increase Fuel Efficiencies Reduce Fuel Cell Costs Reduce Overall System Costs Conformable Tanks Thiokol Populsion 1995: 2.5% system weight Address Energy Consumption Issues Address Safety Issues Development of Advanced Storage Concepts
Program Metrics Total Market Potential for ZEVs in 2020 446,000 Light-Duty Vehicles 5.4 million Sport-Utility Vehicles Total Generating Capacity in 2020 26 MW Residential 316 MW Total Annual Carbon Displaced in 2020 13.45 mmtce Total Gallons of Gasoline Displaced in 2020 2.47 billion gallons of gasoline 58.5 million bbl s of oil
Research and Development Production Renewable (Biomass, Photobiological, Photoelectrolytic) Fossil (improved reforming, CO 2 separation) Storage Compressed and Liquid Chemical and Metal Hydrides Carbon Nanotubes Utilization Engines and Fuel Cells Sensors Codes and Standards
Improved Hydrogen Production Research projects focused on reducing cost, reducing or eliminating CO 2 emissions, and/or providing opportunities for sequestration of CO 2 Projects are an integral part of the DOE Hydrogen Program strategy to introduce hydrogen into the utility and transportation sectors
Fossil-Based Hydrogen Production Build on the established steam methane reforming technology base to provide low-cost hydrogen for nearer-term hydrogen demonstration projects Develop innovative processes that simplify process design and operation ITM Process Pre-reformed natural gas feed CO, H 2 products CH 4, H 2, CO, H 2 O, CO 2 ~ 850 C 250-450 psig Air feed at 0-10 psig
Renewable Hydrogen Production Bio-oil reforming successfully demonstrated for a variety of feedstocks in long-term catalyst lifetime tests; partners identified for scale up of system in an industrial setting
Integrated Biomass-to-Hydrogen Current process: slow pyrolysis of peanut shells to produce activated carbon Additional process: pyrolysis vapors to be reformed to produce hydrogen Future process: multiproduct slate from vapors, such as adhesives, fuel additives, chemicals, etc.
Hydrogen Storage Developed synthesis, purification, cutting techniques, and measurement standards that result in high-purity SWNT samples and reproducible results Able to store up to 7 wt% hydrogen in small samples at room temperature and pressure Fundamental understanding of the interactions is progressing
Hydrogen Storage Insulated pressure vessels combine the weight & volume benefits of LH 2 with CH 2 limit boil-off losses flexible refueling Lightweight fiberwrapped tanks ~12 wt% storage pass safety tests
Safety Developing safe, low-cost hydrogen sensor fiber-optic thin-film Flame impingement testing Sensor film 5 mm
Safety 3 seconds Fuel leak simulation hydrogen on left gasoline on right equivalent energy release 1 minute
Technology Validation Support industry (utility, residential and transportation) in the development and demonstration of hydrogen systems Integrate renewable energy resources with hydrogen storage in remote, distributed power scenarios Test the viability of hydrogen production, storage, and refueling stations within several clean clusters Evaluate remote and residential "total" energy PEM fuel cell systems Develop hydrogen-based operating experience acceptable to meet safety codes and standards
Hydrogen Buses Prototype FC buses being tested Data collection is important operation and maintenance improvements lessons learned
Hydrogen Buses SunLine Transit (CA) testing several production technologies PV-electrolysis wind-electrolysis ATR/POX Las Vegas, NV small-scale SMR
Analysis and Outreach Analysis Economic feasibility Technical viability Environmental impact Outreach Non-technical barriers (public safety) Education (public, decision-makers, business leaders) Web site: Hydrogen Information Network http://www.eren.doe.gov/hydrogen
Steam Methane Reforming LCA
Wind Electrolysis LCA
Resource Use/Requirements 3,642 g/kg of H2 1,000 Resources (g/kg of H) 2 900 800 700 600 500 400 SMR wind/electrolysis 300 200 100 0 Coal Iron Ore Iron Scrap Limestone Oil Natural Gas
Air Emissions 11,000 10,500 10,620 10,000 9,500 9,000 60 8,500 55 50 SMR wind/electrolysis 8,000 7,500 7,000 Air emissions (g/kg of H ) 2 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 6,500 6,000 5,500 5,000 4,500 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 10 5 0 CH4 NMHCs NOx SOx CO particulates benzene 1,500 1,000 500 0 950 CO2
Summary DOE Hydrogen Program balances near-, midand long-term RD&D to bring hydrogen technologies to the marketplace Increased interest in fuel cells for transportation and stationary applications is beginning to translate into a focus on infrastructure Awareness of the need for diversification of energy supplies has focused increased attention on the promise of hydrogen More to come stay tuned!!