By Ian Mongold

 Energy Issues  World’s oil supplies are running out  World’s demand for fossil fuels  Degradation of the environment  What does the future hold for alternative green energy sources?

 Hydrogen!

 Hydrogen is the most abundant element  Less Green House Gas emissions  Only emissions are heat and water  However there are emissions in some production methods  Decrease dependency of foreign oil  Potential to run a fuel cell more efficiently than a internal combustion engine

 On-board storage  Pressurized tank  Liquid  Material-based storage  Cost (average cost $100,000)  Getting hydrogen to consumers  Public Acceptance

 Steam Reforming  95% of Hydrogen  Natural Gas  Splits Natural gas into Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide  Electrolysis  Electrical current splits water into hydrogen and oxygen  Steam Electrolysis  Uses heat instead of electricity

 VA Tech research team lead by Y.P. Percival Zhang  Large amounts of hydrogen can be extracted from plants  Potentially a low cost environmentally friendly source  Hydrogen specially comes from xylose  His method can use any source of biomass

 Utilizes renewable natural resources  Greenhouse gas emissions are very little  This process does not need any heavy metals  Net energy gain of 100%  Uses low temperature waste heat source in the process of make quality hydrogen

 The researchers created a “enzyme cocktail”  Combine the enzyme with a polyphosphate and the xylose  The large amounts of hydrogen release from the xylose

 In the xylose, water molecules split caused by the energy stored  This reaction occurs at low temperatures  The result is high-purity hydrogen that can be used immediately in a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell

 This process could be in the market in a couple of year depending on if the technology needed is available.  Market right now for hydrogen produced from natural gas is at around $100billion dollars  If a “Hydrogen Economy” were to occur that number could be $1trillion dollars

 Pipeline-Owned by hydrogen producers and are limited to small areas  Tube Trailer-Holds up 400kg of hydrogen only practical for short distances  Cryogenic Tanker-Transports hydrogen in a liquid form at -253 degrees C. more economical at long distances but liquefaction process requires large amount of energy

 Most common is compressed hydrogen tank  Tanks range from 3,600psi to 10,000psi  Most fueling stations have 5,000psi to 10,000psi  BMW is the only car maker to have made a prototype with a cryogenic fuel tank  Therefore hardy any hydrogen stations have liquid hydrogen

 Some car manufactures are starting to lease vehicles in Southern California, Japan and Germany  The first hydrogen car to be leased was a Honda FCX Clarity  Other companies like BMW are also jumping on board

 GreenGT H2 to run at the 24 hours of Le Mans  Date: 22 and 23 of June 2013  Powered by 2 hydrogen fuel cells  Set out to prove that hydrogen fuel viable in motorsports.  Top Speed 300Km/h or 186mph  40 minutes per tank  UZQ UZQ

“Benefits and Challenges.” U.S. Department of Energy. U.S. Department of Energy, Web. May 27, 2013 “Breakthrough in hydrogen fuel production could revolutionize alternate energy market.” Virginia Tech News. Virginia Tech News, Web. May 27, 2013 “GreenGT H2.” GreenGT. GreenGT, Web. May 27, 2013 “Hydrogen Fuel Tanks.” Hydrogen Cars Now. Hydrogen Cars Now, Web. May 27, 2013 “Hydrogen Production and Delivery.” International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy. International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy, Web. May 27, 2013 “Hydrogen Transportation by Tube Trailer.” Roads2Hy. Roads2Hy, Web. May 27, 2013 “Liquid Hydrogen Transportation by Truck.” Roads2Hy. Roads2Hy, Web. May 27, 2013

Coming in the spring of 2014