DOE: 10 million metric tons of hydrogen produced annually in the US; 68% for petroleum processing
16 May 2018
US annual hydrogen production is approximately 10 million metric tons (1.0E+10 kg), 68% of which is used in petroleum processing, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE). The Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicle has a hydrogen tank capacity of approximately 5 kg (0.005 metric ton); thus, the annual hydrogen production works out roughly to about 2 billion Mirai tank-equivalents.
About 21% of the hydrogen is used in the production of fertilizer. Most of the hydrogen produced in the United States comes from steam methane reforming.
There are currently 1,600 miles of hydrogen pipeline in the United States and there are large hydrogen production facilities in almost every state.
With 1600+ miles of H2 pipelines and many large production facilities, enough 2 billion Mirai fills, good enough for 700 billion miles, USA already has enough H2 facilities for a very large FCEV fleet?
Of course, more cleaner H2 production + pipelines/distribution centers could be added, on an as required basis?
Posted by: HarveyD | 16 May 2018 at 12:57 PM
SO there is already quite a market for H2.
Question is - should they generate it by steam reforming of methane (as they do now) or from excess solar and / or wind energy?
Depends on the price of carbon (if you had one?), or mandates.
Posted by: mahonj | 17 May 2018 at 02:08 AM
Yes mahonj:
One of the best way to reduce CO2 emissions would be a progressive penalty for emitters and a tax credit or subsidy for CO2 emission reductions?
Since an effective system would require some kind of binding international treaty, it would not be easy to introduce unless it is done over a very long period (20+ years)?
Posted by: HarveyD | 17 May 2018 at 05:09 AM
The USA consumes on the order of 600 million metric tons (152 billion gallons) of gasoline per year. 1 kg H2 has energy roughly equivalent to 1 gallon of gasoline, so less than 7% equivalent of gasoline consumption. There is also no network to distribute hydrogen beyond Gulf-coast refineries, and all of that hydrogen is produced by reforming hydrocarbons.
Electricity is already everywhere. Why is it so hard to keep "greens" from being distracted by the shiny hypedrogen bauble dangled by the oil companies?
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 17 May 2018 at 12:07 PM
New cleaner more effective ways to produce lower H2 is discovered almost every month. Solar units using REs and surplus grid energy will soon replace current method using reforming NG.
Factory built, transportable ultra quick DC charging stations could have their own factory built transportable clean H2 production unit. Alternatively, H2 could be pipelined and/or transported by trucks from adjacent H2 stations.
Eventually, H2 stations and ultra quick charging units could be co-located. With 500+ miles range FCEVs, fewer H2 stations would be required.
Posted by: HarveyD | 18 May 2018 at 02:07 PM