Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ce ll T echno lo g y
Will it contribute to energy independence?
Stephen Cohen and Nathan Bonnett
scohen1677@gmail.com, nbonnett87@hotmail.com
May 18, 2007
FUEL CEL L
TECH NOL OGY
Technology overview
Hydrogen fuel development
Law, legislation, and administrative
agency treatment
What is a Fuel Ce ll?
Thermal Processes
Natural Gas Reforming
Gasification
Renewable Liquid Reforming
Hyd ro gen Pr oductio n
Natural Gas Reforming
Steam Methane Reforming
Hydrogen is produced from methane in natural
gas using high-temperature steam
Methane reacts with the steam in presence of a
catalyst to produce hydrogen
This process accounts for about 95% of the
hydrogen used today in the U.S.
Partial oxidation
Produces hydrogen by burning methane in air
Hyd ro gen Pr oductio n
Gasification
Process in which coal or biomass is
converted into gaseous components by
applying heat under pressure and in the
presence of steam
A subsequent series of chemical reactions
produces a synthesis gas which reacts with
steam to produce more hydrogen that can
be separated
Hyd ro gen Pr oductio n
Electrolytic Processes
Electrolytic processes use an electric current
to split water into hydrogen and oxygen
The electricity required can be generated by
using renewable energy technologies such
as wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric
power
Hyd ro gen Pr oductio n
Photolytic Processes
Uses light energy to split water into
hydrogen and oxygen
These processes are in the very early
stages of research but offer the possibility of
hydrogen production which is cost effective
and has a low environmental impact
Hyd ro gen Pr oductio n
Norms
Market
• CURRENT LAW
Federal
Energy Policy Act of 2005
Things to keep in mind:
$1.3 billion tax reductions for alternative motor vehicles and fuels
(hydrogen, ethanol, methane, liquified natural gas, propane)
Energy Policy Act of 2005
Programs Connected with Fuel Cells
Federal Incentives
Renewable Energy Systems and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Grants
USDA made $22.8 million available for the purchase
of renewable energy systems and energy
improvements for agricultural producers and small
rural businesses
Eligible projects include biofuels, hydrogen, and
energy efficiency improvements, as well as solar,
geothermal, and wind
II. Incentives
Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit
05/06: IRS established a form which provides the
mechanism to claim the credit on as many properties
as developed
Illinois
Alternate Fuels Rebate Program
Provides a rebate for 80% of the incremental cost
of purchasing an AFV (up to $4,000),
80% of the cost of federally certified alternative
fuel vehicle conversions (up to $4,000), and
the incremental cost of purchasing alternative
fuels
Includes hydrogen, but the focus is clearly on
E85 and biodiesel
Select State Incentives
North Dakota
Hydrogen to power a fuel cell is exempt from sales tax
through 06/10
Oklahoma
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technician Training
Regulates the training, testing, and certification of technicians
who install, modify, repair, or renovate equipment used in the
fueling of AFVs and the conversion of any engines to alternative
fueled engines
Arkansas
Fuel Cell Income Tax Credit
Credit for 50% of the amount spent on a facility that produces
fuel cells
III. Proposed Legislation
Department of Transportation
Department of Energy
Environmental Protection Agency
Department of
Transpor tation
Federal Transit Agency
FTA Fuel Cell Transit Bus
Georgetown Fuel Cell Transit Bus Program
Began the logical transit connection in 1994
Generation II buses in 1998 and 2001
Generation III bus program development began in 2006
Demonstrate 3 hydrogen fuel cell buses in Chicago
Demonstrate 3 different types of fuel cell buses at SunLine Transit
Department of
Transpor tation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Conduct fuel cell vehicle testing to identify potential
failure modes of a high pressure compressed hydrogen
storage system
Develop a fuel cell vehicle and electrical isolation test
procedure
Conduct container integrity testing
Conduct a comparative analysis/evaluation of existing
and proposed regulations and standards on hydrogen
container integrity, general fuel cell vehicle safety, and
vehicle crash safety
De partm ent o f En ergy
Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies
Program
Development of next generation technologies,
Establishment of an education campaign that
communicates potential benefits, and
Better integration of subprograms in hydrogen, fuel cells,
and distributed energy
Lead Federal agency for directing and integrating activities
in hydrogen and fuel cell R&D, and is responsible for
coordinating the R&D activities for DOE's Hydrogen
Program
De partm ent o f En ergy
FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Program
The long-term aim is to develop "leap frog" technologies
that will provide Americans with greater freedom of
mobility and energy security, while lowering costs and
reducing impacts on the environment
Examines need and risk of research in Hydrogen Fuel
Development in the automotive industry
Wants consumers to have variety/choice – what, where,
how they drive
George W. Bush
President’s “Hydrogen Fuel
Initiative” collaborates with
DOE’s FreedomCAR, the Big
Three, and the US Counsel for
Automotive Research – boasts
that it will speed up broad
commercialization from 2030 to
2015.
Promising technology
Most viable for niche market use in the
near future
Widespread marketplace acceptance
and use is still many years away