(55h) The USDOE Hydrogen Program: Status and Performance of Hydrogen Production and Delivery Technologies

The DOE Hydrogen Program is pursuing a number of diverse pathways for producing hydrogen at both distributed and centralized locations. Projections show that near term production of hydrogen at the fueling station using steam-methane reforming can meet the DOE cost targets of $2.00 - $3.00/gge, untaxed and delivered. The Program's near-term efforts are now focused on distributed production from the reforming of bio-derived liquids, as well as small-scale water electrolysis. Longer term centralized production of hydrogen from coal with sequestration and biomass gasification along with nuclear energy provides additional opportunities and is under investigation. Alternate approaches to these technologies include solar energy for water splitting using photobiological, photoelectrochemical, and thermochemical processes. The objective of hydrogen delivery R&D is to reduce the total cost of delivery to less than $1/gge. Focus areas include the analysis and development of hydrogen compression technology (centrifugal and electrochemical), stationary storage and tube trailers, liquefaction technologies, new pipeline materials, and new liquid or solid hydrogen carriers.