The announcement of a hydrogen fuel initiative in the President's 2003 State of the Union speech substantially increased interest in the potential for hydrogen to play a major role in the nation's long-term energy future. Prior to that event, DOE asked the National Research Council to examine key technical issues about the hydrogen economy to assist in the development of its hydrogen R&D program. Included in the assessment were the current state of technology; future cost estimates; CO2 emissions; distribution, storage, and end use considerations; and the DOE RD&D program. The report provides an assessment of hydrogen as a fuel in the nation's future energy economy and describes a number of important challenges that must be overcome if it is to make a major energy contribution. Topics covered include the hydrogen end-use technologies, transportation, hydrogen production technologies, and transition issues for hydrogen in vehicles.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1. Introduction
2. A Framework for Thinking About the Hydrogen Economy
3. The Demand Side: Hydrogen End-Use Technologies
4. Transportation, Distribution, and Storage of Hydrogen
5. Supply Chains for Hydrogen and Estimated Costs of Hydrogen Supply
6. Implications of a Transitionto Hydrogen in Vehicles for the U.S. Energy System
7. Carbon Capture and Storage
8. Hydrogen Production Technologies
9. Crosscutting Issues
10. Major Messages of the Report
References
Appendix A: Biographies of Committee Members
Appendix B: Letter Report
Appendix C: DOE Hydrogen Program Budget
Appendix D: Presentations and Committee Meetings
Appendix E: Spreadsheet Data from Hydrogen Supply Chain Cost Analyses
Appendix F: U.S. Energy Systems
Appendix G: Hydrogen Production Technologies: Additional Discussion
Appendix H: Useful Conversions and Thermodynamic Properties