1. The Hydrogen Economy A strategy proposal for encouraging growth
25 April, 2016
Collin Allen, Daniel Ketyer, Alex Klonick, and Josh Lariscy
Bass Connections Energy and the Environment: Design and Innovation
Instructors: Dr. Emily Klein, Dr. Josiah Knight, and Chris Dougher

2. Bottom Line
Hydrogen produced via steam reformation can and should play a more significant role in transitioning to renewable energy technologies
Progression of problem throughout the year
First few bullets from poster intro section

3. How We Got Here August - October November - January February - April
Define Problem
Qualitative Research
Quantitative Modeling
Synthesize Recommendations
Progression of problem throughout the year
First few bullets from poster intro section
Key Meeting

4. What We Discovered Renewables are severely limited by intermittency
Hydrogen is an attractive option for grid energy storage
Transportation integration faces significant barriers
SRM is most common and most cost effective production method
What hydrogen is and why we are interested in it.
Energy storage potential
Steam Reformation – Natural gas combined cycle vs steam reformation then use in fuel cell is roughly the same cost per
Base $2.00/mmbtu; Low $1.50; High $5.00 ; Very High $10.00
Photoelectric Catalysis is not feasible in the short-term. In the long-term it is feasible if improvements are made in the capital costs of materials, the processes efficiency, and the scale at which it is able to produce hydrogen

5. Key Questions
Is hydrogen a viable alternative storage method in our energy system?
What are the ideal market conditions to implement a hydrogen energy economy?

6. Is Hydrogen a viable alternative to the current energy system?
Objective 1 Is hydrogen a viable alternative to current energy system?
What is the current energy system?
How is it produced?
How is it used
How has hydrogen been pursued within the energy system?
How is hydrogen produced?
Is it economically feasible to produce hydrogen?
Energy system chart

7. Is Hydrogen a viable alternative to the current energy system?
Model Analysis
Analyze pathways from a macroeconomic scale
Consider factors such as cost, lifetime, availability of resources
Is there a feasible path with hydrogen?
Objective 1 Is hydrogen a viable alternative to current energy system?
What is the current energy system?
How is it produced?
How is it used
How has hydrogen been pursued within the energy system?
How is hydrogen produced?
Is it economically feasible to produce hydrogen?
Energy system chart

8. Bottlenecks Generation
If producing hydrogen isn’t economically feasible, pathway won’t exist
Near term: can technology be implemented
Storage
Hydrogen must be competitive with battery storage development
Is hydrogen storage possible on a larger scale?

10. Non-Hydrogen Power Generation
Electricity Costs Clearly Differ
Renewables have fairly competitive prices
However, limited by intermittency of generation and geographical location
With storage, cost of solar dramatically rises
Fossil fuels still present reliability
Can hydrogen generation be competitive?

12. Natural Gas Generation is Appealing
Decreasing natural gas costs
Lowering feedstock costs decrease combined cycle plant LCOE
Even with carbon sequestration technology, prices can remain competitive
However, decreasing natural gas costs also decrease costs of hydrogen generation through SRM

14. SRM is Potentially Feasible
Low Cost Feedstock Case
Reformation can produce relatively cheap energy (kWh yield per kg of H2)
On a theoretical basis, efficiencies of current PEM fuel cells could generate electricity that is nearly competitive
Costs on par with carbon sequestration technology with NGCC
Hydrogen represents reliable alternative
With current costs of battery storage, hydrogen is an attractive alternative
Strength lies in immediate generation capability, no reliability problems
Hydrogen burns clean, can help spur further development of hydrogen storage and fuel cells

15. Final Recommendations
Government  Incentivize use of hydrogen in electricity sector
Utilities  Invest in hydrogen production via methane steam reformation
Academia  Explore impact of new materials on cost of hydrogen production
Other: Automakers should not be bullish on hydrogen
- Steam reformation can be competitive with natural gas combined cycle

16. Further Research Compare lifecycle efficiencies
Evaluate carbon pricing impacts
Forecast material cost and efficiency improvements

17. Thank You!

18. The Hydrogen Economy A strategy proposal for encouraging growth
25 April, 2016
Collin Allen, Daniel Ketyer, Alex Klonick, and Josh Lariscy
Bass Connections Energy and the Environment: Design and Innovation
Instructors: Dr. Emily Klein, Dr. Josiah Knight, and Chris Dougher