28-06-2012, 04:54 PM
STATUS AND PROGRESS of the DOE HYDROGEN PROGRAM
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INTRODUCTION
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) support of hydrogen-based energy systems was first authorized
by the Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1990
(Public Law 101-566). DOE’s authorization levels for the Hydrogen Program to the year 2001 was
specified in 1996, by the Hydrogen Future Act (Public Law 104-271). The latter Act directs the
Secretary of Energy (Secretary) to conduct a research, development, and demonstration program
leading to the production, storage, transport, and use of hydrogen for industrial, residential,
transportation, and utility applications. In addition, Section 102 of the Hydrogen Future Act requires
that: “Not later than January 1, 1999, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a detailed report on
the status and progress of the programs authorized under this Act.” This report is submitted in
response to that requirement.
In the next 20 years, hydrogen energy systems are expected to penetrate a number of energy markets,
to address increasing concerns for global climate change and energy security. Energy Information
Administration (EIA) estimates that worldwide carbon dioxide emissions will double from 1998
levels by 2020. Roughly one-third of the U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide come from burning coal
and natural gas to produce electricity. Regarding energy security, the U.S. currently imports roughly
45% of the crude oil it consumes, and that percentage is expected to increase to 60% by 2015.
Industry is fully cognizant of the potential of hydrogen and is investing very substantially in developing
fuel cells and hydrogen production systems for several markets including the hydrogenation of fuels.
Advances in high-efficiency Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology have attracted
significant private sector interest and investment as an electricity generation technology for both
stationary and mobile applications. There are plans to commercialize both a 250 kW fuel cell system
for utilities and 5 kW residential fuel cell system by 2002. The automobile industry is expected to
be producing commercial buses by 2002 and tens of thousands of cars annually by 2004, that will
utilize the PEM fuel cell as the onboard power system. These efforts will enhance the
commercialization of PEM fuel cells and ultimately help to establish carbon-free, zero-emission
energy systems.
Given the President’s budget submissions, and within the authorization levels of the Hydrogen
Future Act of 1996, the Hydrogen Program supports a broad range of research and development
(R&D) projects that together aim to make producing, storing, and using hydrogen in integrated
energy systems safer and less expensive than it is today. In concert with mid-term market factors
and long-term sustainability goals, criteria for the production, storage, and utilization of hydrogen
were established for the hydrogen core R&D program. Progress on several projects in the R&D
pipeline show promise to move to the validation stage over the next few years (e.g., advanced natural
gas- and biomass-based hydrogen production technologies, high pressure gaseous and cryogas
hydrogen storage systems, and reversible PEM fuel cell systems). Others lay the groundwork for
longer-term opportunities.
The federal role in technology validation must enhance the utilization of hydrogen in the energy
generation and transportation sectors, but not duplicate industry activities that are in their mainline
businesses. Concerning transportation applications, the Secretary of Energy’s Hydrogen Technical
Report to Congress on the Status and Progress of the DOE Hydrogen Program
iii January 1, 1999
Advisory Panel, in their report [Market Applications for Hydrogen-fueled Vehicles, April 1996],
indicates that barriers to the introduction of the hydrogen option include the lack of a refueling
infrastructure, limited driving range, and lack of affordability. On the utility side, a key program
need is the demonstration of integrated renewable and hydrogen systems to provide increased
operational and peaking generation flexibility. These are also the areas where industry is underinvesting.
The DOE Hydrogen Program, in partnership with industry, has developed a 50/50 costshared
technology validation effort for the demonstration of renewable-hydrogen systems, hydrogen
infrastructure, and small-scale remote power systems to overcome these barriers and offer potentially
attractive options for emerging electric generation and transportation markets.
STATUS AND PROGRESS
In January 1998, the DOE Hydrogen Program published a strategic plan that established the goals
and strategic objectives that are used to manage the Program. Five-year implementation plans were
derived for four of the Program elements: research and development; technology validation; policy,
planning, and analysis; and outreach and coordination. The status and progress of each of these
elements is discussed below.
Technology Development
R&D is the fundamental thrust of the Hydrogen Program and the basis for achieving all of its longterm
goals. The R&D projects are organized into three categories: hydrogen production; hydrogen
storage, distribution, and delivery; and hydrogen utilization. Exhibit 1 presents an overview of the
R&D Program and shows some of the top-level component performance goals that are used to
manage the research projects. Each of the R&D categories is described below.
Hydrogen Production: Production R&D is focused on developing more efficient and less costly
conversion processes, and on developing smaller-scale production systems that are amenable to
distributed-generation and vehicle applications. Exhibit 1 displays the cost goals established by the
program to meet requirements for mid-term and long-term applications. Experimental results in the
Sorption Enhanced Reformer (SER) and Plasma Reformer projects demonstrate the potential for
lowering the cost of hydrogen production by 25 to 30% from conventional steam reforming
processes that will meet the system goals contained in Exhibit 1. The targets for systems that harness
solar power directly to produce hydrogen by splitting water will be more difficult to achieve, but the
potential pay-off, a carbon-free energy system, justifies sustained commitment. Moreover, several
recent advances show promise.
Hydrogen Storage, Distribution, and Delivery: R&D is focused on novel hydrogen storage systems
that are lighter, smaller, and less costly than existing alternatives. For the mid-term, Thiokol, in a
cooperative agreement with DOE, has designed and fabricated lightweight “conformable” pressure
vessels that are expected to exceed 7 weight percent (wt%) gaseous hydrogen storage. Also, the
first-cycle testing of a cryo-gas system that can potentially double the vehicle range offered by
pressurized tanks has been successfully completed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
For the longer term, in 1998 researchers identified a sodium-aluminum hydride storage system with
hydrogen uptake at 5-10 wt%.
Hydrogen Utilization: R&D is focused on PEM fuel cell systems that convert hydrogen to
electricity, as well as ancillary equipment needed for complete systems. Stack testing of a nonmachined
low-cost fuel cell demonstrated a 57% energy conversion efficiency. Also, success with
sensors demonstrating improved hydrogen selectivity and response speed have enabled prototype
Report to Congress on the Status and Progress of the DOE Hydrogen Program
iv January 1, 1999
Exhibit 1. Summary R&D Roadmap Matrix
Goal Relevant Projects
Hydrogen
Production
Lower the production cost of hydrogen
Fossil-based
Sorption-enhanced reformer
Ion-transport membrane
Plasma reformer
Thermo catalytic cracking
Biomass-based
Fast pyrolysis and catalytic steam reforming
High-moisture biomass gasification
Bacterial water shift
Lower the production cost of hydrogen
Photobiological
Photocatalytic water cleavage
Photoelectrochemical-based direct conversion
Hydrogen
Storage,
Distribution,
Delivery
Demonstrate safe and cost-effective
storage systems for use in stationary
and vehicle applications: Storage
density, 5 wt% H2, Full life cycle cost,
50% of the cost of hydrogen fuel
Pressurized containers
Cryogenic pressurized containers
Magnesium and calcium-based chemical hydrides
Aluminum-based chemical hydrides
Fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphite
nanofibers
Hydrogen
Utilization
Develop fuel cell and reversible fuel
cell technologies as an efficient, lowcost
means of converting hydrogen into
electric power
Low-cost PEM fuel cell manufacturing techniques
Fiber-optic chemochromic and thick-film hydrogen
sensors
subsystem engineering tests to be planned for 2000 and 2001 to transfer the technology to industry.
PEM fuel cell projects funded by the Hydrogen Program are complementary to efforts within
industry and the DOE Office of Transportation Technologies.
Technology Validation
The Technology Validation effort is devoted to integrating first-of-a-kind advanced hydrogen
production and storage technologies, incorporating the latest industry-developed fuel cell technology,
and validating the overall energy systems’ performance. The rationale for the technology validation
program is predicated on two factors: 1) significant R&D progress has been achieved or is expected
on several hydrogen production and energy storage technologies, and 2) significant industry and
government investment in fuel cell technology will require infrastructure development and energy
systems improvements if they are to be integrated within a hydrogen energy system.
Based on progress of the core R&D, system requirements defined both through analysis and industry
interest, DOE has recently completed a Technology Validation Plan in three categories (Renewable
Hydrogen Systems, Hydrogen Infrastructure, and Remote Power Systems), with the following goals:
• Low-cost production of hydrogen from fossil and biomass-based fuels at distributed sites;
• Cost-effective carbon sequestration hydrogen production options for fossil-based fuels at
centralized sites;
• Low-cost hydrogen storage for stationary and vehicle applications;
• Cost-effective fuel cell options, including a reversible fuel cell, that accommodate renewable
energy sources; and
• Remote and village power systems.