A Strategy for the Hydrogen Transition

摘要: A rapid, practical, and profitable commercialization path for fuel cells H2 can be executed by coordinating convergent trends in several industries. This strategy relies on existing technologies, begin immediately, proceeds a logical viable sequence. It has two preconditions: uncompromised ultralight-hybrid vehicles whose inherently high efficiency permits their fuel-cell stacks to rely conveniently compact onboard tanks of compressed gaseous H2, making liquid-fuel reformers unnecessary uncompetitive; integration market development between buildings. As first step, co- or trigeneration could currently compete many buildings virtue its thermal credit. yield even greater economic value wherever electric distribution grids are old congested, where other “distributed benefits” important rewarded. Its made the building mass-produced “hydrogen appliance”—either an offpeak electrolyzer natural-gas steam reformer. Next, huge (which use two-thirds all U.S. electricity), supplemented industrial niche markets, would soon cut costs levels competitive vehicles. Low-tractive-load Hypercars™ adopt at severalfold higher prices, hence years earlier, than conventional cars. The general-vehicle then opened hydrogen using spare capacity buildings’ sources serve too—particularly drivers work live near same Further, those vehicles’ daytime as plug-in ~20+-kWe power plants repay significant fraction lease cost. building/vehicle make gaseous-H2 fueling practical without new upstream bulk-supply infrastructure. better cost less liquid-hydrocarbon reforming. Ultimately it provide more 3 TWe generating capacity, enough principle displace virtually central stations. both stationary mobile applications built volume dispersed but reformer appliances, also start installed freestanding outside Before long, growing justify further competition from bulk supply, especially climatically benign sources. Such options include converting hydroelectric dams (or renewables) “Hydro-Gen” that earn far profit shipping each electron with proton attached, R.H. Williams’s concept wellhead reforming natural gas CO2 reinjection. latter option’s three possible streams—high-value hydrogen-fuel sales, enhanced hydrocarbon recovery, potential carbonsequestration credits—are already attracting large energy companies. ~200-year climate-safe CH4 reserves (at roughly current rates consumption) long bridge fully renewable system. diverse dynamic portfolio sources—up- downstream; nonrenewable; based electrolysis, reforming, methods; small no net climatic effect—would ensure healthy price robust policy choices.