The Hydrogen Economy

The announcement of a hydrogen fuel initiative in the President's 2003 State of the Union speech substantially increased interest in the potential for hydrogen to play a major role in the nation's long-term energy future. Prior to that event, DOE asked the National Research Council to examine key technical issues about the hydrogen economy to assist in the development of its hydrogen R&D program. Included in the assessment were the current state of technology; future cost estimates; CO2 emissions; distribution, storage, and end use considerations; and the DOE RD&D program. The report provides an assessment of hydrogen as a fuel in the nation's future energy economy and describes a number of important challenges that must be overcome if it is to make a major energy contribution. Topics covered include the hydrogen end-use technologies, transportation, hydrogen production technologies, and transition issues for hydrogen in vehicles. Table of Contents Front Matter Executive Summary 1. Introduction 2. A Framework for Thinking About the Hydrogen Economy 3. The Demand Side: Hydrogen End-Use Technologies 4. Transportation, Distribution, and Storage of Hydrogen 5. Supply Chains for Hydrogen and Estimated Costs of Hydrogen Supply 6. Implications of a Transitionto Hydrogen in Vehicles for the U.S. Energy System 7. Carbon Capture and Storage 8. Hydrogen Production Technologies 9. Crosscutting Issues 10. Major Messages of the Report References Appendix A: Biographies of Committee Members Appendix B: Letter Report Appendix C: DOE Hydrogen Program Budget Appendix D: Presentations and Committee Meetings Appendix E: Spreadsheet Data from Hydrogen Supply Chain Cost Analyses Appendix F: U.S. Energy Systems Appendix G: Hydrogen Production Technologies: Additional Discussion Appendix H: Useful Conversions and Thermodynamic Properties