Hydrogen Generation

• Overview of renewable generation concepts, from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, part of the DOE
• In contrast, the main DOE hydrogen site discusses only the generation of hydrogen from coal, natural gas and nuclear power.
• Generated by electrolysis or photoelectrolysis using energy from renewable resources (photovoltaic, solar thermal electric, hydroelectric, wave, tidal, geothermal) and nuclear reactors
• Thermochemical conversion of coal to synthesis gas and then to H₂ seems reasonable until you remember that the CO₂ must be captured and stored for a long, long time.
• Thermochemical conversion of biomass to synthesis gas and then to H₂ is promising.
• Can be distributed via modified natural gas infrastructure.

Storage of Hydrogen

• Storage is a problem: NREL H₂ storage program
• A new report on the status of metal hydrides as storage media has just been released by the DOE.
• DOE hydrogen program review (2000)

Hydrogen Programs and Information

• Comparison of fuels
• DOE hydrogen program
• DOE hydrogen program 2007 is focused on H₂ from coal.
• DOE hydrogen posture plan (2006)
• DOE H₂ program overview (2000).
• Information: generation via electrolysis powered by wind, photovoltaics, solar heat engines, geothermal plants; storage concepts