Large Scale Hydrogen Production Using Solar Energy -- Status, Challenges, and Plans

To improve U.S. energy security and to supplement biofuels as a replacement for petroleum in light duty vehicles, a low cost, reliable, and renewable source of energy will be required. One option that is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is the production and use of hydrogen in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Projections show that near term production of hydrogen at the fueling station using steam-methane reforming can meet the DOE cost targets of $2.00 - $3.00/gge, untaxed and delivered. Longer term centralized production of hydrogen from coal with sequestration and biomass gasification along with nuclear energy provide additional opportunities and are under investigation. Alternate approaches to these centralized hydrogen production technologies include solar energy for water splitting using photobiological, photoelectrochemical, and thermochemical processes. This presentation will discuss the current status of each of these solar technologies, the challenges that each must overcome, and the approach that is being taken to address the challenges and to advance the technologies closer to commercialization.