11-03-2014, 03:38 PM
PROSPECTS FOR BUILDING A HYDROGEN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
BUILDING A HYDROGEN.pdf (Size: 1.55 MB / Downloads: 19)
Abstract
About two-thirds of primary energy today is used directly as transporta-
tion and heating fuels. Any discussion of energy-related issues, such as air pollution,
global climate change, and energy supply security, raises the issue of future use of alter-
native fuels. Hydrogen offers large potential benefits in terms of reduced emissions of
pollutants and greenhouse gases and diversified primary energy supply. Like electricity,
hydrogen is a premium-quality energy carrier, which can be used with high efficiency
and zero emissions. Hydrogen can be made from a variety of feedstocks, including
natural gas, coal, biomass, wastes, solar sources, wind, or nuclear sources. Hydrogen
vehicles, heating, and power systems have been technically demonstrated. Key hydro-
gen end-use technologies such as fuel cells are making rapid progress toward commer-
cialization. If hydrogen were made from renewable or decarbonized fossil sources, it
would be possible to have a large-scale energy system with essentially no emissions
of pollutants or greenhouse gases. Despite these potential benefits, the development
of a large-scale hydrogen energy infrastructure is often seen as an insurmountable
technical and economic barrier.
Development of Markets for Hydrogen Energy
Although hydrogen infrastructure rather than hydrogen end-use systems is the
focus of this review, successful commercialization of hydrogen end-use systems,
such as fuel cell vehicles or fuel cell heat and power systems, is a key precondition
for the development of a hydrogen infrastructure.
What will drive adoption of hydrogen rather than other alternative transporta-
tion fuels? There are a variety of advanced vehicle/alternative-fuel combinations
that have the potential to significantly improve fuel economy and reduce fuel cycle
emissions, as compared with current vehicles. These include fuel cells, hybrid in-
ternal combustion engine-/battery-powered vehicles, and electric battery-powered
vehicles