Fossil hydrogen production

Carbon capture and storage is the key to avoiding an overall increase of C02 emissions through fossil hydrogen production, primarily from coal. Except for biomass, renewable hydrogen is only an economic choice under certain circumstances, unless renewable targets are set. 

The fossil hydrogen production option dominates during the first two decades while the infrastructure is being developed, and also in later periods if only economic criteria are applied initially on the basis of natural gas, later with increasing gas prices more and more on the basis of coal (where available). Carbon capture and storage will be critical for these pathways, if hydrogen is to contribute to an overall C02 reduction in the transport sector. The production mix between gas and coal is highly sensitive to the ratio of feedstock prices a switch occurs at a gas coal price ratio of about 2.5. 

In contrast to fossil energy resources such as oil, natural gas, and coal, which are unevenly distributed geographically, primary sources for hydrogen production are available virtually eveiywhere in the world. The choice of a primary source for hydrogen production can be made based on the best local resource. 

Hashimoto, K., Kawai, T., and Sakata, T., Photocatalytic reactions of hydrocarbons and fossil fuels with water. Hydrogen production and oxidation, ]. Phys. Chem., 88, 4083,1984. 

Considering the prospective hydrogen production cost, the main conclusion is that these still have to be decreased to compete with fossil fuel-based technology, and improved performance in this respect can be obtained by... 

Kermode, R.I., Hydrogen from fossil fuels, in Hydrogen Its Technology and Implications, Section 3.2.2, Chapter 3, Vol. 1—Hydrogen Production Technology, eds., K.E. Cox, and K.D. Williamson, CRC Press, Cleveland, OH, 1977. 

Steinberg, M. and H.C. Cheng, Modern and prospective technologies for hydrogen production from fossil fuels, Int.. Hydrogen Energ., 14(11), 797-820, 1989. 

C02 sequestration technology is a viable contender among a set of options to stabilize the atmospheric C02 level over the next few decades (Lackner, 2002). The technical ability to start such a process exists today, but the institutional structures required to reduce C02 emissions are still missing. For hydrogen production, carbon sequestration at the very least will buy time for alternatives to fossil fuels to become competitive. It is, however, equally possible that carbon sequestration removes the major environmental obstacles to the use of fossil fuels in which case it may prove competitive with alternatives for a long time to come. 

Small-scale (fossil-based) hydrogen production processes, 13 844 Small-signal value, 14 666 Small water-soluble molecules in hemodialysis, 26 820-821 Smaltite, 7 209t Smart emulsions, 10 131 Smart pills, 24 61-62... 

Hydrogen production using renewable (locally available) energy sources is seen as an aspirational nearly zero-emission means of energy provision, offering at the same time the possibility of reducing dependence on fossil fuels and the depletion of finite... 

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