Hydrogen Economy Travis Bayer Energy Law, 2010

Overview Hydrocarbon Economy vs. Hydrogen Economy Hydrocarbon Economy vs. Hydrogen Economy Past excitement vs. Current focus Past excitement vs. Current focus Hydrogen Basics Hydrogen Basics How we produce it How we produce it How we can use it How we can use it Costs Costs The future? The future?

Current Hydrocarbon Economy Fossil Fuels Pollution Pollution – Local – Global Energy Dependent Energy Dependent Cost Cost – Supply

What about a different solution? Benefits of Hydrogen Replace a limited fuel supply Replace a limited fuel supply Security Security Clean? Clean? Possible safety from cyber-attacks? Possible safety from cyber-attacks?

Excitement in early 2000s President Bush’s Hydrogen Fuel Initiative in 2003 President Bush’s Hydrogen Fuel Initiative in 2003 EPAct of 2005 EPAct of Advanced Energy Initiative 2006 Advanced Energy Initiative EISA EISA

But… Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu: “We asked ourselves, ‘Is it likely in the next 10 or 15, 20 years that we will convert to a hydrogen car economy? The answer, we felt, was ‘No.’”

Hydrogen Basics Most Abundant Element Most Abundant Element Almost always found in compounds Almost always found in compounds – E.g. H 2 0 High specific energy High specific energy An energy carrier, not a form of primary energy An energy carrier, not a form of primary energy

What we use it for today Producing Ammonia for crop fertilizers – 60% Producing Ammonia for crop fertilizers – 60% Hydrocracking – 23% Hydrocracking – 23% Methanol – 9% Methanol – 9% Miscellaneous Miscellaneous – Includes space programs!

How do we produce Hydrogen? Breaking down compounds Breaking down compounds – Fossil Fuels – Water Electrolysis

Production: Fossil Fuels 48% Natural Gas, 30% Oil, 18% Coal 48% Natural Gas, 30% Oil, 18% Coal – Natural Gas Steam Reforming: CH 4 + H 2 O + Energy → CO + 3 H 2 CH 4 + H 2 O + Energy → CO + 3 H 2 CO + H 2 O → CO 2 + H 2 CO + H 2 O → CO 2 + H 2 – Kvaener-process: C n H m + Energy → nC + 1/2mH 2 C n H m + Energy → nC + 1/2mH 2

Steam Reforming

Production: Water Electrolysis Electrical power sources are connected to two electrodes which are placed in water: – Anode (oxidation): 2 H 2 O(l) → O 2 (g) + 4 H + (aq) + 4e − – Cathode (reduction): 2 H + (aq) + 2e − → H 2 (g) Most of the 4% produced by electrolysis is a side product in the production of industrial chlorine

Electrolysis Efficiency Consumes about 50kWh of electricity per kg of Hydrogen produced Consumes about 50kWh of electricity per kg of Hydrogen produced – Energy efficiency is in the range of 50-80%

Renewable Sources and Electrolysis: The Carbon Free Solution? Solar Solar – E.g., Daniel Nocera Wind Wind – E.g., Xcel and NREL

Green Dream

Solar Under the Recovery Act, Sun Catalytix received $4 million through ARPA-E Under the Recovery Act, Sun Catalytix received $4 million through ARPA-E – Claims near 100%efficicency

Wind Approval Granted in 2007, already making fact findings

Hydrogen’s role in our energy system Hydrogen Fuel Cells Hydrogen Fuel Cells Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine

Hydrogen Fuel Cells Basics Basics Different Varieties Different Varieties Efficiency Efficiency Possible Uses Possible Uses – Vehicles – Stationary Sources

Fuel Cell: Basics Electrochemical energy production Electrochemical energy production – Not exactly like batteries Reliable Reliable – % reliable in ideal conditions Basic Design:

Fuel Cell: Varieties Fuel Cells are defined by the electrolyte used – Mobile: Proton exchange membrane fuel cell – Stationary: PAFC – Many others

PEMFC & PAFC Diagram

Fuel Cell: Efficiency High Theoretical Electrical Output Efficiency High Theoretical Electrical Output Efficiency In practice, about 40-50% efficient In practice, about 40-50% efficient Compare to practical efficiencies of: Compare to practical efficiencies of: – Internal Combustion Engines: about 20% – Lithium-ion battery: about 90% Still, a Hydrogen fuel cell requires about 2.5x more energy to make it than it provides in its service life. Still, a Hydrogen fuel cell requires about 2.5x more energy to make it than it provides in its service life.

Fuel Cell: Possible Uses Vehicles Vehicles – No longer US administrations target, but: – Ford Airstream Concept car: – 2008 Honda FCX Clarity:

Fuel Cell: Possible Uses Stationary Sources Stationary Sources – Cogeneration in Homes and Offices Don’t need pure hydrogen, and don’t use platinum in anode Don’t need pure hydrogen, and don’t use platinum in anode PAFC fuel cells can provide efficiencies close to 80% PAFC fuel cells can provide efficiencies close to 80% New focus on SOFC New focus on SOFC – Mixed Source plants – Renewable + Fuel Cell – Distributed Generation?

Hydrogen ICE Possible, but recall that fuel cells are more efficient than combustion engines. Possible, but recall that fuel cells are more efficient than combustion engines.

Costs Storage Storage Hydrogen Production Hydrogen Production Cell Production Cell Production Distribution Distribution Bottom line Bottom line

Costs: Storage Liquid H Liquid H – Too expensive Compressed Gas Compressed Gas – Container issues Stored as a chemical hydride Stored as a chemical hydride Absorb in a solid storage material Absorb in a solid storage material – Nanotubes?

Costs: Hydrogen Production 1 kg of H is roughly equivalent to 1 gallon of gasoline 1 kg of H is roughly equivalent to 1 gallon of gasoline Baseline cost of water electrolysis is currently about $6.25/kg of H Baseline cost of water electrolysis is currently about $6.25/kg of H – DOE goal of $3.10 by 2012 Steam Reformation of Natural Gas is around $1.50/kg right now Steam Reformation of Natural Gas is around $1.50/kg right now – Highly dependant on natural gas prices

Costs: Fuel Cell Production Platinum very expensive Platinum very expensive – A commodity, like natural gas, fluctuates in price

Costs: Fuel Cell Production Cost of most widely deployed stationary fuel cells: $4,500 per kilowatt Cost of most widely deployed stationary fuel cells: $4,500 per kilowatt – Cost of diesel generators: $800-1,500 per kilowatt – Cost of natural gas: $400 per kilowatt – DOE fuel cell goal: $400 per kilowatt Cost of automobile fuel cells: $61 per kilowatt Cost of automobile fuel cells: $61 per kilowatt – Cost of internal combustion engine: $25-35 per kilowatt – DOE fuel cell goal: $30 per kilowatt

Costs: Hydrogen Distribution Hydrogen Pipelines + Refueling Stations Hydrogen Pipelines + Refueling Stations – Embrittlement issues Solvable problem Solvable problem California Hydrogen Highway California Hydrogen Highway – The Chicken and the egg problem – GM still thinks feasible With governmental incentives With governmental incentives – Happening in other countries

Where does that leave us? Fuel cells in cars? Fuel cells in cars? – GM v. Chu

DOE Goal Lower Fuel Cell Costs to as low as $400 per kilowatt by 2020 Lower Fuel Cell Costs to as low as $400 per kilowatt by 2020 – Keep in mind, Secretary Chu’s focus is on stationary fuel cells EPAct of 2005 tax incentives EPAct of 2005 tax incentives State financial incentives State financial incentives State RPS State RPS

Where does that leave us? Fuel cells in stationary sources? Fuel cells in stationary sources? Private and Academic research? Private and Academic research? – GM and other automakers pushing towards Hydrogen? Can they do that without government support? – New electrolytes and catalysts that can lower costs?

THE END Sources: Sources: NREL: NREL: DOE data: DOE data: GM Study: Wikipedia: Energy, Economics, and the Environment: class textbook Howstuffworks.com: cell4.htm Scientific America: obama-cuts-hyd http:// obama-cuts-hyd Fuelcells.org: Report to Congress: