Resources for hydrogen production in the USA

Primary energy supply is a key issue for any new transportation fuel. Constraints on domestic resources and production of petroleum have led to increasing levels of imports. An important policy driver for alternative fuels for transportation in the USA is that they will alleviate some of the issues surrounding dependence and economic vulnerability related to petroleum imports, especially from politically unstable parts of the world. This raises some important questions for hydrogen as a future alternative fuel will the USA have the resources to produce hydrogen for vehicles at low cost and with low environmental impact  

Currently, large amounts of hydrogen are produced from natural gas for oil refining and chemical applications in the USA. These industries could provide a springboard to a hydrogen economy.1 But ultimately, to obtain the most 

Some analysts have raised concerns that making hydrogen for vehicles will put unacceptable demands on natural gas supplies (Romm, 2004). However, natural gas demand to make fuel for hydrogen vehicles is unlikely to become an issue for many decades. 

3 Long-term resources for hydrogen production in the USA realising zero emissions 

One of hydrogen s major attractions is tapping vast new resources for transportation fuels that are domestically abundant and converted to H2 with zero or near-zero emissions. To fully realise the benefits of a hydrogen economy, cost-effective zero-emission fuel supply pathways are needed. Several have been proposed, and each has unique challenges. 

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