The Hype about Hydrogen

The Hype about Hydrogen, Fact and Fiction in the Race to Save the Climate is a book by Joseph J. Romm. The gist of the book is that hydrogen is not economically feasible to use for transportation, nor will its use reduce global warming. Key problems are the cost and green house gases generated during production, the low energy content per volume and weight of the container, the cost of the fuel cells, and the cost of the infrastructure.

Introduction

The book talks about the importance of global warming but states Neither government policy nor business investment should be based on the belief that hydrogen cars will have meaningful commercial success in the near- or Medium-term.

Chapter 1, Why Hydrogen? Why Now?

Introduces some of the difficulties of a Hydrogen economy.

Chapter 2, Fuel Cell Basics

Explains how fuel cells work, discussion of different types, their comparative advantages and disadvantages including costs and efficiencies.

Chapter 3, The Path to Fuel Cell Commercialization

Discusses the difficulties in marketing fuel cells for use as high reliability back up power, for the residential market, and for combined heat and power generation. In spite of these difficulties, the book argues that these applications are easier and more likely to happen soon than transportation applications.

Chapter 4, Hydrogen Production

Discusses history of hydrogen. Production of global hydrogen by production method:

The book argues that the most cost effective method of hydrogen generation is from natural gas and generates CO2, which is a green house gas. Furthermore, the electricity required to generate enough hydrogen to replace all the gasoline in the US would be more than all the electricity currently produced.

Chapter 5, Key Elements of a Hydrogen-Based Transportation System

The book estimates the hydrogen fueling infrastructure could cost half a trillion US dollars. Liquefying which would require 40% of the energy content of the hydrogen. Liquid hydrogen would evaporate at the rate of 4%/day. Just generating the electricity to liquify 1kg of hydrogen would release 17.5 to 21 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. By comparison, burning gallon of gasoline, which has a similar energy content, would release about 20 pounds of CO2.

Compressing hydrogen to 10,000 psi would require about 10% to 15% of its energy content, and take about 7 or 8 times as much volume as the same energy in a gasoline tank. At 8,000 psi, a pressure tank would cost $2100 per Kg of hydrogen.

This chapter ends with a discussion of alternatives for generation, transportation and storage of hydrogen.

Chapter 6, The Long Road to Commercialization of Fuel Cell Vehicles

In 2002, Honda estimated that it would take 10 years to bring down the cost of a fuel cell vehicle down to $100,000. Hydrogen powered internal combustion engines would use twice the hydrogen of a fuel cell, exacerbating the generation, transportation and storage problems of Hydrogen. The book discusses the problems of using vehicle fleets as early adopters of the technology, and the dual use of hydrogen vehicles for transportation and electricity generation.

Chapter 7, Global Warming and Scenarios for a Hydrogen Transition

Discusses evidence of the reality and seriousness of global warming. Royal Dutch/Shell projects that even with substantial effort, CO2 in the air will be double pre-industrial levels.

Chapter 8, Coping with the Global Warming Century

Four reasons why hydrogen will not be the best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

• Internal combustion engines continue to improve in efficiency.
• Hydrogen is likely to be made from fossil fuel. Generally it would be better just to burn the fossil fuel directly.
• Fuel cells are likely to be much more expensive than competing technologies.
• Fuels uses to make hydrogen could achieve larger reductions in greenhouse gas emissions if used to replace the worst of the electric power plants.

Chapter 9, Hydrogen Partnerships and Pilots

Iceland plans a transition to a hydrogen economy based on hydrogen from electrolysis from [geothermal power]. Iceland has large amount of geothermal power which is used for electricity and to heat about 90% of the buildings.

The California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) has helped put about 30 fuel cell vehicles on the road with 8 fueling stations.

Conclusion

The book concludes by stating that hydrogen will not be available for a long time so to combat global warming we should:

• Use low cost strategies to reduce CO2 emissions such as mandating renewables for electricity production and capping allowed Co2 emissions in electricity generation.
• Promote combined heat and power generation.
• Use electricity and natural gas more efficiently.
• Set CO2 standards for cars and trucks.
• Prepare the public for the tough choices ahead including mass transit.

Notes

The book is amply footnoted, with many of the sources available on the Internet.