Why do we need hydrogen?
“We are at the peak of the oil age but the beginning of the hydrogen age. Anything else is an interim solution. The transition will be very messy, and will take many technological paths .....but the future will be hydrogen fuel cells.”
Herman Kuipers, Manager of Exploratory Research Royal Dutch Shell
“General Motors absolutely sees the long-term future of the world being based on a hydrogen economy.”
Larry Burns, Director of R&D, General Motors
Why Hydrogen?
Goldman Sachs predicts that within the next year (by 2007), crude oilprices could top $100 per barrel, leading to gas prices of over $4 pergallon.
Why Hydrogen?
The world's demand for energy is projected to double by 2050 in response to population growth and the industrialization of developing countries.
Production
If we converted the current U.S. light-duty fleet (some 230 million vehicles) to fuel cell vehicles we would need about 310 billion gallons of water per year. Domestic water use is about 4.8 trillion gallons per year, and 70 trillion gallons a year are used for thermoelectric power generation. Interestingly enough, the refinery industry uses about 300 billion gallons of water a year to produce gasoline
Photobiological Biomass Gasification and Pyrolysis
Our Plan for the Future:
2006 – Immediate science and technology education initiatives, including R&D
2010 – First fuel cell cars on the road (motor pool fleets) Fuels cells in buildings/new construction Widespread H2 production Begin to create H2 infrastructure (distribution/manufacture) Tradable permits for CO2 emissions, require auto manufacturers to buy in to
2015 – Fuel cell cars in showrooms H2 fueling stations in major markets (NY, LA, etc. . . ) Fuel cells in private homes Mandate utilities to produce H2
2025 – End internal combustion vehicle manufacture/import Tighten limits on “cap and trade” for CO2 Hydrogen Powered PRT in metropolitan centers
2035 – Sell zero CO2 permits