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Commercialization Challengesfor a Hydrogen Economy : 

Commercialization Challenges for a Hydrogen Economy James Dunn Center for Technology Commercialization Conference on Future Energy Sept 2006

Hydrogen: 

Hydrogen A unique ‘Energy Carrier’, which can produce Electricity (& Heat) using Fuel Cells, (or be Combusted in ICE/Turbines), forming water, with NO Emissions. H2 must be separated from chemical compounds, like CH4, by chemical ‘reforming’ (SMR), or by Electrolysis, or ThermoChemical splitting of H2O Electricity for Electrolysis from Nuclear plants or Renewable Energy sources like Solar PV, Wind, Hydro A "Hydrogen Economy" is the ultimate solution for Energy and Environment, but Commercializing Hydrogen Production, Storage, & Delivery is Not an Easy or Economical Process

Why Hydrogen?: 

Why Hydrogen? Sustainable Renewable Minimal Environmental Impact Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil Create new Clean H2 Economy Good ‘Energy Carrier’ ? Major issues: COST and Infrastructure!

Hydrogen Sources: 

Hydrogen Sources Reformed from CNG (96% of today’s H2) Reformed Gasoline – CO, CO2 issues Electrolyzers – H2O + Electricity BioMass, Methanol/Ethanol – Direct/reformate ThermoChemical – Solar/Waste Heat + H2O Oxidizing Aluminum, Zinc, ?

Hydrogen Storage: 

Hydrogen Storage H2 Gas - High Press. Tanks 5-10,000 psi Liquid Hydrogen – Cost + Cryo issues Hydrides – Na, Mg, others – high losses Carbon NanoTubes – only 2-4% Wt. H2 NH3, or other liquids, (like Methanol) Other – Urea, Ammonium borate, etc.

Hydrogen Issues: 

Hydrogen Issues Making H2 uses more energy than it yields Storing/Delivering H2 uses too much energy H2 can’t be distributed in existing Natural Gas pipelines We need a safe/cheap way to store H2 in cars

Hydrogen Challenges: 

Hydrogen Challenges H2 is currently too COSTLY to compete with gasoline or CNG Nat’l H2 infrastructure could cost over $100 B Renewable energy too costly for making H2 (vs. nuclear or off-peak power) NEW H2 production and delivery industry needs to be developed (non HC based)

Hydrogen Costs: 

Hydrogen Costs At today's energy prices, it is still more expensive to make H2 by electrolysis than reformed fossil fuels Delivered H2 cost from Nat. Gas too high to compete. H2 Cost driven by base fuel - Nat’l Gas ($5-15/mcf), plus Transportation and Storage costs Estimated H2 costs are approx.: $ 8 + per GJ of H2 energy from nat. gas, $10 per GJ from coal, and $20 per GJ, by electrolysis of water

Natural Gas Reserves – US 2%: 

Natural Gas Reserves – US 2%

Efficiency of H2 Energy production, storage, and conversion/use : 

Efficiency of H2 Energy production, storage, and conversion/use Production - Electrolyzer = 70% NG SMR Reform = 90% Storage (Compression) = 85% Delivery (per 1000 kM) = 90% Fuel Cell Conversion = 50-60% Total NET ‘Turnaround Effic.’ = 25-35%

H2 Storage/Delivery Losses: 

H2 Storage/Delivery Losses Compression – 800 bar – 15% Liquification – Comp.+Cryo - 30-40% Hydrides – Chemical + Heat = 60% Delivery – Truck Wt. of 35,000 kg to haul 500 kg H2 (takes 20 H2 trucks to dlvr. same energy as one Gasoline truck!) Pipeline Loss = 25-30% for 3000 kM H2 Storage/Delivery losses exceed liq. fuels

Real Costs of H2 ($/kg): 

Real Costs of H2 ($/kg) Base Fuel (LNG/NG) – $2.50 – 5.00+ Reforming (SMR) $1.30 - $1.60 Liquifying $2.00 – 3.00 Transport/Dlvy. $1.00 – 12.00 Dispensing $2.00 – 7.00 Carbon Tax ??? Total Cost/kg $8 – 30+ (vs. Gasoline cost $3/Gal) Source – Doty Scientific - 2004

Critical Success Elements: 

Critical Success Elements H2 must be made Close to Point of Use H2 must NOT depend on Petroleum or HC’s (Ideally produced from H2O or Biomass) Production must NOT produce C-Emissions COST must be equal or less than PetroFuels

Key Issues for Commercialization: 

Key Issues for Commercialization COST, COST, COST Cost to Produce H2 Cost to Store/Deliver/Dispense Cost to Convert to H2 usage If H2 Economy costs More than existing Petroleum Economy, will people convert?

Summary – H2 Benefits: 

Summary – H2 Benefits Hydrogen is a key link between electric energy from renewable sources and chemical energy. H2 an ideal fuel for new ‘clean energy’ conversion devices, like fuel cells, or hydrogen IC engines. BUT Hydrogen is NOT a good medium for carrying energy from primary sources to Distant End Users. New solutions needed for commercial bridge between H2 sources and Fuel Cells & H2 ICE’s. Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers still Very Costly –

New Ideas for H2 Generation/Use: 

New Ideas for H2 Generation/Use Solar Thermal processes: High T Power Tower - Sodium Iodide process - Florida Solar Energy Center New Low T (450C) Vanadium catalyzed ThermoChemical process – Reaction Sciences, Inc. New H2 ICE programs and Free Piston engines: Ford, Volvo, BMW, Sandia Labs New Hydrogen vehicles and Total Hydrogen Home

Florida Solar Energy Center: 

Florida Solar Energy Center High Temp Solar Thermochemical process Objectives􀂉Produce hydrogen via a new Sulfur-Ammonia thermochemical water splitting cycle Use both solar heat and photon energy to increase solar to hydrogen efficiency Develop multiple processes utilizing solar and electrical energy for the production of hydrogen

High T Sulfur Ammonia processFlorida Solar Energy Center: 

High T Sulfur Ammonia process Florida Solar Energy Center Approach SO2(g) + 2NH3(g) + H2O(l) →(NH4)2SO3(aq) 25 oC (Chemical absorption) (NH4)2SO3(aq)+H2O→(NH4)2SO4(aq)+H2(g) 25oC (Solar photochemical step) (NH4)2SO4(aq)→2NH3(g) + H2SO4(l)285 oC (Solar thermochemical step) H2SO4(l) →SO2(g) + H2O(g) + 1/2O2(g) 850 oC (Thermochemical step) Overall: H2O + Solar energy = H2+ 0.5 O2 [Producing High Temp 850 C heat most costly element]

NEW Waste Heat H2 GeneratorReaction Sciences, Inc - N J: 

NEW Waste Heat H2 Generator Reaction Sciences, Inc - N J Novel Low T Hydrogen production method Developed by Reaction Science Inc. Uses 450-500C H2O from Waste Heat (or Solar Thermal Trough) + VCl3 NO FUEL NO EMISSIONS High efficiency Extremely Low Cost H2 - $.35/kg

Slide20: 

RSI Low Temp. Thermo-Chem H2 Benefits Produce Hydrogen at $0.35 /kg (vs. $6-15/kg now) NO FUEL and NO Emissions (only Water used!) Hydrogen from Solar Energy @ > 40% effic. Saleable Oxygen by-product Use H2 for Fuel Cells, H2 combustion, or refinery Can use H2 for coal gasification, & coal to methane Increase efficiency of many energy processes

Slide21: 

Cost & Environmental Comparison 1 Gigawatt H2 Plant V- Process Plant Cost $120M Ops. expense .25/kg Fuel Cost = 0 (H2O) Gas Consumption = 0 CO2 Emissions = 0 NET H2 Cost = $.35/kg Steam Reform Nat Gas Plant Cost $120 million Ops. Expense $0.20/kg Fuel Cost $4-7/Mcf 30 year Fuel cost $ 22 B 30 year Gas consumption 720 Billion Cu Ft 30 year CO2 emissions > 40 million tons NET H2 Cost = $8-20/kg

Slide22: 

VCl3 REGEN./ H2 GEN. VCl3 DECOMP. VCl3 HYDROGEN OUT VCl2 REVERSE DEACON OXYGEN OUT HCl – O2 SEP. H20 IN HCl + O2 Cl2 HCl HEAT

H2 Internal Combustion Engines: 

H2 Internal Combustion Engines Ready today – Ford, Volvo, Mazda, BMW Simple – Clean - No CO, CO2 Ideal for Fleets and central fuel depots Competitive Today Easy to roll out + Service Need distributed H2 Fuelling Stations Fuel COST a major issue

Ford E-450 Van with H2 Triton V-10: 

Ford E-450 Van with H2 Triton V-10

Why Fuel Cells & H2 ICE vehicles ?: 

Why Fuel Cells & H2 ICE vehicles ? High Efficiency – 30-50% Zero Emissions – Only Water Vapor No carbon emissions Combined Heat and Power Hydrogen Fuel - Sustainable and Renewable

Sandia ‘Free Piston’ H2 Engine: 

Sandia ‘Free Piston’ H2 Engine Free piston linear alternator -The free piston linear alternator was designed to approach ideal Otto cycle performance through HCCI operation, with high compression ratios, and rapid combustion. The linear generator is designed to generate electricity directly from the piston’s oscillating motion, as rare earth perm. magnets in piston are driven back and forth thru alternator coils. Combustion occurs alternately at each end of piston using two-stroke cycle scavenging The alternator controls the piston’s motion, and cylinder gas compression, by efficiently managing the piston’s kinetic energy through each stroke. Compression of the fuel/air mixture is achieved inertially, and a mechanically simple, variable compression ratio design is possible with sophisticated electronic control, and used to start the piston moving. The Compression ratio of the engine is variable; depending on engine’s operating conditions (e.g., fuel type, equivalence ratio, temp.) Thus, the desired compression ratio can be achieved by modifying the operating parameters, vs changes in the engine’s hardware. Advantages - Long Life, Low Cost, Over 50% Thermal Effic., SIMPLE Secret – There is only ONE moving part!

Free Piston Engine-Generator: 

Free Piston Engine-Generator

NREL Solar Hydrogen Home Vision: 

NREL Solar Hydrogen Home Vision

BPU Funded Solar Hydrogen Home Project: 

BPU Funded Solar Hydrogen Home Project Solar-Hydrogen Home

Duffy Fuel Cell Electric Boat: 

Duffy Fuel Cell Electric Boat

Fuel Cells in Aviation : 

Fuel Cells in Aviation Electric UAV’s – NASA Helios Aerovironment Auxiliary Power – Boeing APU Electric Airships – HAA – L-M Electric Propelled Aircraft WPI DynAero E-Plane

Slide32: 

Piloted Fuel Cell Aircraft 2 place Electric DynAero

Hydrogen Future: 

Hydrogen Future Hydrogen is a unique ‘Energy Carrier’ with great potential, but COST, STORAGE, and DISTRIBUTION issues must be solved before it can become a successful and competitive “Energy solution”.

Future Vehicle Technology : 

Future Vehicle Technology Technology Time Mpg Hybrid Gas-electric 2000-2015 50-75+ Hybrid diesel-electric 2007-2015 75-100 Hydrogen ICE 2008-2030 40-75 Alt. Fuel Hybrids 2010-2020 60-100 Plug-in Hybrids/EV’s 2010-2025 100-165 H2 ICE Hybrids 2015-2030 100-150 Hybrid MicroTurbine 2018-2030 120-175 Hydrogen Fuel Cell 2020-? 75-130

Vehicle Trends: 

Vehicle Trends

150 mpg Car – 2012 ?: 

150 mpg Car – 2012 ?

Slide37: 

For More Information: James Dunn Center for Technology Commercialization 134 Flanders Rd. Westboro, MA. 01581 jdunn@ctc.org 508-870-0042