U.S. looks to hydrogen fuel cells

WASHINGTON, DC, United States (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy`s setting up of a Hydrogen Technical Advisory Committee is a step toward making fuel cells a viable alternative to fossil fuels.
'Research, development and deployment of hydrogen is central to President Bush`s Advanced Energy Initiative,' Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said last week. 'Receiving candid advice from this committee is one of the many ways we are working to meet the president`s goal of moving toward a hydrogen economy.'
The move comes amid estimates by the Energy Information Administration, the Energy Department`s data arm, that energy consumption to grow by 71 percent between 2003 and 2030.
HTAC comprises 25 members from industry, academia, professional societies, government agencies and hydrogen safety experts who meet approximately twice a year to discuss issues pivotal to the development of hydrogen fuel cells. A chair will be elected at the first meeting, expected to be in the fall.
Significant funding is at stake. According to Energy Department statistics, President Bush`s fiscal year 2007 budget requests $215 million for hydrogen research and development, a 55 percent increase from FY 2006. The appropriation of this funding is the biggest challenge facing the development of hydrogen fuel cells.
The Energy Department has made progress with its hydrogen program. The storage material capacity of fuel cells has improved by 50 percent since 2004, but more work is needed to meet technical targets.
'The DOE will work with experts from academia, nonprofits and industry within the framework of HTAC,' DOE spokesman Craig Stevens told United Press International. 'The Committee will review and make recommendations to the Secretary on the implementation of programs and activities under the Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Act.'
The act is named for the late senator from Hawaii who was a proponent of the use of renewable energy sources. The act provides funding for research into alternative energy sources.
Other key topics of discussion should include the development of viable hydrogen production, storage and fuel cell technologies. The talks should also detail institutional challenges such as safety, codes and standards, education, and infrastructure investment, Stevens said.
Roger Saillant, chief executive officer of Plug Power, a firm that focuses on stationary fuel cells, is one of the 25 members of HTAC. He said he believes the HTAC`s membership will prove beneficial in realizing a hydrogen economy.
He said people resist changing to fuel cells because they are perceived to be dangerous. Studies have shown traditional gasoline and natural gas to be more dangerous than hydrogen. The inclusion of the director of the Florida State Fire Marshals, Rand Napoli, should go a long way in reassuring the public about hydrogen`s safety.
'Fire marshals bring legitimacy to the table which speeds up the storage, generation and consuming devices necessary with hydrogen,' he said.
Saillant said he believes current U.S. energy policies are more to protect the source of fossil fuels than reducing the consumption levels.
'HTAC is an excellent opportunity to educate about ways to reduce consumption and come up with alternatives to protecting the source,' he said.
Stevens believes the hydrogen community is on track to meet President Bush`s goal of making hydrogen fuel cells practical and cost-competitive by the year 2020. Discussion of the hydrogen transition strategy and the appropriations of funding should remain high on HTAC`s agenda.
For example, Bodman`s announcement of a $52.5 million solicitation in April will reach its pre-application deadline July 6 with applications coming due this December. This funding would be for research in fuel cell membranes, nanoscale catalysts and novel materials for hydrogen storage and will most likely be discussed at HTAC meetings.
'HTAC has the potential to have a positive effect on the Department of Energy`s hydrogen program,' David Friedman, research director for the Clean Vehicles Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told UPI.
Friedman said he views hydrogen fuel cells more as a long-term project. The most important issue to resolve is the transportation of hydrogen along with other technical issues such as its storage and finding cheap, yet durable, fuel cells to install in cars.
Looking to the future, Saillant said he would also like to see HTAC communicate with stakeholders across the world. He believes bringing European, Asian and other counterparts to the table is vital to making hydrogen fuel cells viable.
'The United States is positioned with a unique opportunity to exercise our global leadership [with hydrogen fuel cells] and to address some serious long range problems affecting the world, such as global warming,' Saillant said.
(Comments to energy@upi.com)
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
WASHINGTON, DC, United States (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy`s setting up of a Hydrogen Technical Advisory Committee is a step toward making fuel cells a viable alternative to fossil fuels.
'Research, development and deployment of hydrogen is central to President Bush`s Advanced Energy Initiative,' Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said last week. 'Receiving candid advice from this committee is one of the many ways we are working to meet the president`s goal of moving toward a hydrogen economy.'
The move comes amid estimates by the Energy Information Administration, the Energy Department`s data arm, that energy consumption to grow by 71 percent between 2003 and 2030.
HTAC comprises 25 members from industry, academia, professional societies, government agencies and hydrogen safety experts who meet approximately twice a year to discuss issues pivotal to the development of hydrogen fuel cells. A chair will be elected at the first meeting, expected to be in the fall.
Significant funding is at stake. According to Energy Department statistics, President Bush`s fiscal year 2007 budget requests $215 million for hydrogen research and development, a 55 percent increase from FY 2006. The appropriation of this funding is the biggest challenge facing the development of hydrogen fuel cells.
The Energy Department has made progress with its hydrogen program. The storage material capacity of fuel cells has improved by 50 percent since 2004, but more work is needed to meet technical targets.
'The DOE will work with experts from academia, nonprofits and industry within the framework of HTAC,' DOE spokesman Craig Stevens told United Press International. 'The Committee will review and make recommendations to the Secretary on the implementation of programs and activities under the Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Act.'
The act is named for the late senator from Hawaii who was a proponent of the use of renewable energy sources. The act provides funding for research into alternative energy sources.
Other key topics of discussion should include the development of viable hydrogen production, storage and fuel cell technologies. The talks should also detail institutional challenges such as safety, codes and standards, education, and infrastructure investment, Stevens said.
Roger Saillant, chief executive officer of Plug Power, a firm that focuses on stationary fuel cells, is one of the 25 members of HTAC. He said he believes the HTAC`s membership will prove beneficial in realizing a hydrogen economy.
He said people resist changing to fuel cells because they are perceived to be dangerous. Studies have shown traditional gasoline and natural gas to be more dangerous than hydrogen. The inclusion of the director of the Florida State Fire Marshals, Rand Napoli, should go a long way in reassuring the public about hydrogen`s safety.
'Fire marshals bring legitimacy to the table which speeds up the storage, generation and consuming devices necessary with hydrogen,' he said.
Saillant said he believes current U.S. energy policies are more to protect the source of fossil fuels than reducing the consumption levels.
'HTAC is an excellent opportunity to educate about ways to reduce consumption and come up with alternatives to protecting the source,' he said.
Stevens believes the hydrogen community is on track to meet President Bush`s goal of making hydrogen fuel cells practical and cost-competitive by the year 2020. Discussion of the hydrogen transition strategy and the appropriations of funding should remain high on HTAC`s agenda.
For example, Bodman`s announcement of a $52.5 million solicitation in April will reach its pre-application deadline July 6 with applications coming due this December. This funding would be for research in fuel cell membranes, nanoscale catalysts and novel materials for hydrogen storage and will most likely be discussed at HTAC meetings.
'HTAC has the potential to have a positive effect on the Department of Energy`s hydrogen program,' David Friedman, research director for the Clean Vehicles Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told UPI.
Friedman said he views hydrogen fuel cells more as a long-term project. The most important issue to resolve is the transportation of hydrogen along with other technical issues such as its storage and finding cheap, yet durable, fuel cells to install in cars.
Looking to the future, Saillant said he would also like to see HTAC communicate with stakeholders across the world. He believes bringing European, Asian and other counterparts to the table is vital to making hydrogen fuel cells viable.
'The United States is positioned with a unique opportunity to exercise our global leadership [with hydrogen fuel cells] and to address some serious long range problems affecting the world, such as global warming,' Saillant said.
(Comments to energy@upi.com)
Copyright 2006 by United Press International