The Hydrogen Economy

Karl K. JonietzInstitute for Hydrogen & Fuel Cell

ResearchLos Alamos National Laboratory

LA-UR 05-6588

The Hydrogen Economy is not:

• An answer to all of mankind’s problems

• The only thing we have to do

• Guaranteed to solve global warming

• Going to be easy or cheap

• Just around the corner

• Assured

“Beware of people trying to sell hydrogenated snake oil”

Some background

• Energy has basically three uses: heat, electricity and transportation

• Petroleum is great as a transportation fuel– High energy density, liquid, easy to handle,

and dirt cheap (even now)

• We have used more petroleum for transportation than we produce domestically since 1987

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U.S. Production

Domestic Petroleum Consumption

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U.S. Petroleum Production and Consumption, 1970 - 2025Im

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Energy dependence has implications

• Other countries are now competing for the oil we buy

• Consider the secondary implications – many groups of people will not be able to pay the prices that will be demanded for petroleum

• It is difficult to believe we are better off as a nation if there are large groups of cranky people conspiring in the dark

• Energy security has become national security

We may also have an answer

• Hydrogen sources (natural gas & water) are abundant and widely distributed

• Some methods of producing hydrogen do not produce CO2

• Three ways to use hydrogen in transportation: H2 internal combustion engines, HCNG ICEs, and in fuel cells

• The quiz will cover the following

How PEM Fuel Cells Work

Right click mouse here for movie menu

That’s cool, but what are the problems?

• It all boils down to getting “butts in seats”

• We have never successfully weaned Americans from the personal automobile

• In order to get the US driving public to trade in their gasoline cars, we must have a viable alternative

• Keys are range, convenience, and cost, cost, cost

DOE’s 2015 Targets

• Safe operation

• Hydrogen storage to allow >300 mile range

• Fuel cell system cost of $30/kW

• Hydrogen delivered cost $2.00 – 3.00 per gallon of gas equivalent or kg H2

• Fuel cell durability >5000 hours, with cold start to -20°C and survivability to -40°C

This won’t cut it

• Note the ample luggage room

• Perhaps a safety issue

• Range was limited• This does not

represent success

In 1973, LANL modified a Buick to run on liquid hydrogen

Where are we today?

• Codes and standards are under development

• Driving range is improving, but still a problem

• Fuel cell system costs are about $200/kW

• We are approaching $3.00/gge for distributed natural gas reforming

• Durability remains a serious barrier

Good news; bad news

• GN: We can find solutions to these problems• BN: It will take time; we have short attention

spans -- industry and government are not good at long-term research

• GN: Many researchers at many institutions are involved

• BN: People with little chance of success are climbing on the bandwagon and getting funding while siphoning off critical research dollars

Fuel Cell & Hydrogen timeline at LANLLos Alamos activities & accomplishments vs. external events

Hydrogen Storage Virtual Center of Excellence Awarded

Objective Force W arrior Power System w/ Ball Aerospace

PNGV Medal, Energy 100 & Energy @ 23 Awards

World’s First Gasoline-Direct-to- Electricity Demo w/ ADL& Plug Power

First Complete Methanol-Direct-to- Electricity Power System

General Motors / LANL Electrochemical Engine Project (on-site)

CO Tolerance Established via Anode Air Bleed

Staged Preferential Oxidation Developed w/ DelcoRemy

H2 /O2 NASA tests w/ Ballard

Manufacturable Thin - Film Electrodes PEM Electrode Breakthrough, Pt 20X

1st DOE funded Fuel Cells for Transportation Project

CH2/O2 Fuel Cell Golf Cart Demo

LH2 ICE Buick Demonstration

LASL/Westinghouse Rover/NERVA Nuclear Rocket Program(Hydrogen Propellant)

FreedomCAR & Hydrogen Fuel Initiatives

GM Establishes Corporate Fuel Cell R&D Center

Government/Industry Partnership for a New Generation ofVehicles (PNGV)

2 nd Oil Embargo

1st Oil Embargo

Hamilton Standard SPE Electrolyzers for O2 Production on Nuclear Submarines

General Electric develops SPE fuel cell for NASA Gemini Missions

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Institute for Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Research

Los Alamos defense programs develop science and engineering base for hydrogen isotope purification, storage, and materials interactions

Fusion Energy Science Tritium Facility

Questions?

kjonietz@lanl.gov

505-667-1311