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Introduction: Fuel Cells – The Hydrogen Revolution?

http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/greenhouse/Chapter1.htm

Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Carbon Dioxide Concentrations (1751-2004)Global energy challenges:

• Volatility in oil prices and sustained shortfalls due to far-reaching geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges.

• Rising of CO and other GHGs

• Rapid economic growth and energy consumption in China and India

• Global climate change by majority of mainstream scientists’ beliefs.

U.S. Anthropogenic GHGs Emissions by Gas, 2006

(Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent)

Fuel-Cell Technology

Fuel-Cell TechnologyHistory:

Year Event1983 William Grove, British physicist proposed fuel-

cell idea.

1950s

Fuel-cell research was accelerated and driven by the U.S. space program’s needs.

Since 1950

Fuel cells have also been used in military equipment and scientific applications in locations like the South Pole.

Type of Fuel cell:1.Alkaline fuel cell (AFC)2.Phosphoric-acid fuel cell (PAFC)3.Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)4.Molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC)

Type of Fuel cell for the transportation:PEM ( Proton change membrane or polymer electrolyte membrane)

Fuel-Cell TechnologyComponent of PEM fuel cell:Consist of seven parts – All are assembled in a few mm

thick. - Proton exchange membrane: made of Teflon - Two electrodes: Carbone Anode (-) and Platinum Cathode (+) - Two porous backing for each electrode: made of carbon

paper/cloth. - Two exterior plates: made of stainless steelChemical processes:Generate electricity by electrochemical reaction

Oxygen (O2) + Hydrogen (H2) H2Oatmosphere Cryogenically cooled

tanks

Performance of PEM:• Each PEM produces ~ 0.7 volts of electricity.• Multiple fuel cells generates 200-300 volts to power a large electric motor.• Latest generation of fuel-cell in 2003: - Comparable in size & weight - More expensive 10 times, $30,000 than ICE (Internal Combustion Engine), $3,000

alternativefuels.about.com/.../PEM-Fuel-Cell.htm

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Introduction: Fuel Cells – The Hydrogen Revolution?

Internal Challenges:• High costs of development both viable fuel-cell technology and infrastructure for producing and distributing hydrogen.

• Ambiguous supporting from federal government

• Cost $10-20 billion to develop a network of hydrogen refueling stations.

• In 2003, GM spent over $1 billion in fuel-cell R&D but had yet to commercialize any its vehicles.

Why?

•Ambiguous the proposed level of supporting from federal government to overcome the “Chicken – and – egg dynamic.

• Future role of fuel cells was too important to let market forces alone dictate the timing of what it hoped would be a “ hydrogen revolution.” – by Bush administration.

• Past government in the U.S. and abroad had a questionable track record when sponsoring technologies.

The US Government and the Hydrogen Economy

2002, Bush administration "National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap" "National Vision of America's Transition to a

Hydrogen Economy-To 2030 and Beyond.“ October 5, 2003

"hydrogen highway“ “elected officials across the political spectrum

were beginning to believe that government intervention in facilitating hydrogen-fueled transportation was necessary and desirable.”

Issues of Hydrogen Economy

• In 2002, National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap proposed seven critical barriers to the successful development of hydrogen economy.

– Production

– Delivery

– Storage

– Conversion

– Applications

– Education and Outreach

– Codes and Standards• Balkanized approach• Globally coordinated approach

European Union and Japanese Efforts

In EU and Japan government agencies were funding both fuel-cell basic science and enabling infrastructure technology Japanese efforts were considered to be ahead of US and EU Compared to US and Japan; EU efforts were more focused on demonstration and pilot

projects

In 2004, there was not significant difference across US, Japan and EU in supporting hydrogen based transportation.

Europeans had greater incentive to adopt hydrogen based transportation technologies.

Japan 4.62

http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Oil/idUSTRE4BO0AC20081225

Other Actors

Apart from customers there are numerous groups that have effect on development of hydrogen based economy

Oil companies

Oil-producing nations

Automobile manufacturers

Future

Government plan to establish a hydrogen economy

US government funding of $1.7 billion over the next 5 years (from 2002)

Could the government afford it? Could it afford not to make it?

What is it like today? (1)

Technical progress (1): Reduced the projected cost of hydrogen production from distributed natural gas

(assuming widespread deployment) from $5 to $3 per gallon gasoline equivalent. Reducing the projected, high-volume manufacturing cost of automotive fuel cell

systems from $275/kW in 2002 to $73/kW in 20083 and improving the projected durability of fuel cell systems in vehicles from 950 hours in 2006 to 1900 hours in 2008

Identifying new materials that have the potential to increase hydrogen storage capacity by more than 50 percent,5 and developing and demonstrating a novel “cryo-compressed” tank concept;

Reducing the projected cost of hydrogen production using renewable-based technologies—e.g., electrolysis and distributed reforming of bio-derived liquids (ethanol, sugars)—from $5.90 to $4.80 per gge (assuming widespread deployment)

(1) Congress Report on “Hydrogen and Fuel Cell activities, Progress and Plan”, by US DoE, January 2009

What is it like today? (2)

However: With current technology hydrogen fueled cars would be more than

twice as expensive as internal combustion engine systems.

Based on the highest demonstrated durability to date, fuel cell systems would have a lifespan of approximately 1900 hours, which equates to about 57,000 miles .

The industry failed to meet the goal of 100,000 hydrogen-fueled vehicles by 2010, as specified in EPACT section 811(a)(4).

To achieve goal of 2.5 million hydrogen fueled cars in the US by 2020 would require the government to pump at least $55 billion in subsidies over the next 15 years to make hydrogen vehicles cost competitive with conventional cars and trucks (1)

(1) http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2008/2008-07-18-10.asp

What is it like today? (3) The Wall Street Journal reported in 2008 that "Top executives from General Motors

Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. Tuesday expressed doubts about the viability of hydrogen fuel cells for mass-market production in the near term and suggested their companies are now betting that electric cars will prove to be a better way to reduce fuel consumption and cut tailpipe emissions on a large scale.

The Los Angeles Times wrote, in February 2009, "Hydrogen fuel-cell technology won't work in cars.... Any way you look at it, hydrogen is a lousy way to move cars

On May 2009 the US Secretary of Engery Steven Chu announced that since fuel cell hydrogen vehicles "will not be practical over the next 10 to 20 years", the U.S. government will "cut off funds" for development of hydrogen vehicles, although the DoE will continue to fund research related to stationary Fuel cells (1)

(1) The Newyork Times, May 7, 2009

References

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AppendixHow does it work?:1.Store H2 flow through channels in exterior plate and

into anode, usually using Pt.2.Resulting positive charge of H+, it is pulled through

the membrane to the Cathode. - The membrane prevent e- from traveling directly through

the cathode.3.The e- is forced into the external circuit that traveled

around the membrane then into the cathode. - This circuit is used to provide electricity to an electric

motor, a rechargeable battery, or another electric-power device

4.H+ and e- reach the cathode, atmosphere oxygen (O2) is forced into the cathode by a compressor.

- Pt catalyst in the cathode split the oxygen molecule in to 2 oxygen atoms.

5.O- & H+ bond to from H2O and small amount of heat - Water and Heat are exhausted into the atmosphere as

only by product of the process.Note:Pt is one of the world’s most precious metals. It is a barrier to reducing fuel-cell costsPt cost $865 per ounce – twice the price of goal.

The problems of Oil Age

Global warming Supply safety Price swings

High oil prices could cause recessions in the developed country

A source of war

The Problems of Hydrogen Economy

The chicken-and-egg problems Viable Fuel-cell technology Infrastructure for producing and distributing

hydrogen• Cost $10-$20 billion in the US for a distribution

system Public concern about safety