Caitlin Shishido
SMA 521
Hydrogen Fuel Cells from Wind Energy
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, production of Wind-to-Hydrogen technology will not be feasible for initial
production before 2020 (DOE 2011, pg6).
[BACKGROUND]
Wind H2 Fuel Cells
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Hydrogen (H2) is produced in large quantities primarily from natural gas (California Fuel Cell Partnership)
Cleaner and 2-3 times more efficient than conventional vehicles using gasoline or diesel (California Fuel Cell
Partnership). But we will only lower greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) though H2 fuel cells if the H2 is derived
from renewable resources such as wind.
How it works (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2011) (Ivancic, 2010):
1. Wind turbines are linked to electrolyzers, which pass wind generated electricity through water & split into H2
and oxygen.
2. H2 is then stored for generating electricity.
3. Stored H2 is either be piped or trucked to fuel stations, where cars are refueled.
4. Cars can either use “on-board” or “off-board” fuel storage
a. On-board: cars contain storage tanks that remain on the car and are refueled in place
b. Off-board: empty hydrogen storage tank would be removed from the car and exchanged for a
regenerated H2storage tank
Pros:
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Generate energy with no conventional pollutants (Breakthrough Technnologies Institute) (Ivancic, 2010)
FCVs emit 60% fewer greenhouse gases than conventional vehicles
The replacement of fossil-fuel emitting vehicles with wind H2 fuel-cells is expected to cause a 23% reduction in
the global warming impact of GHGs (Collela, 2005)
Decreased national dependence on foreign energy sources
Safer than gasoline: fire involving stored hydrogen produced less damage and would pose less risk to a human
than a fire from gasoline (U.S. Department of Energy)
Cons:
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Current infrastructure built around liquid fuels which are not compatible with hydrogen fuels (Univeristy of
Montana Mansfield Ethics and Public Affairs Program, 2011). Requires new production, delivery, and
distribution systems (Breakthrough Technnologies Institute).
Environmental effects: fuel cells require metals (platinum) as a catalyst to drive the reaction to the cell.
Massive initial capital and resource investment:
o Wind turbine costs $1,175,000 so full capital cost of the 4 million wind turbine (to achieve a full wedge)
H2 production system would be at least $4.7 trillion. (Princeton Carbon Mitigation Initiative, 2011)
(Socolow, 2004) (Univeristy of Montana Mansfield Ethics and Public Affairs Program, 2011)
o Copious amounts of fossil fuels, metals, and minerals are used- mostly in the initial construction of the
wind turbines. (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2004)
Difficulty in Global/National Implementation (Univeristy of Montana Mansfield Ethics and Public Affairs Program, 2011)
Caitlin Shishido
SMA 521
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Capital intensive.
o Only most developed nations will have the resources to invest in H2 programs and technologies
o Initially, H2 fuel cell vehicles and their fuel will be more expensive than their gasoline counterparts
which would create access problems for poor individuals.
Institutional Barriers
o New building, technical, and safety standards will have to be mandated and recognized at every level of
government from federal to local.
Political Barriers
o National Academy of Engineering deems technology not yet fully optimized
Informational barriers
o Public perception; Consumers know little to nothing and a large education campaign would need to
ensue in order to guarantee smooth transition from a gasoline economy to H2economy.
Debate over cost and implications for individual transportation cost.
Real life application
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Denmark operates a full-scale hydrogen-energy plant and testing facility. The EU’s first full-scale Hydrogen
Community Demonstration facility for residential Fuel Cell Combined Heat and Power. (Renewable Energy
World, 2007)
Demonstrated use of compressed H2 as a replacement for gasoline or diesel (California Fuel Cell Partnership)
o Ford Focus FCV: fleet evaluation vehicles delivered to U.S., Canada, Germany
o Mercedes F-cell: Used as company fleet vehicles by Deutsche Telekom
o Toyota FCHV-adv: 68.3mpg and 431 mile range
California Fuel Cell Partnership has established about 38 independent hydrogen fuel stations.
Figure 1. Diagram of Hydrogen from Wind Energy. Modified from National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Caitlin Shishido
SMA 521
Literature Cited
Breakthrough Technnologies Institute. Questions and Answers about Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. www.fuelcells.org.
California Fuel Cell Partnership. Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: It Won't Take Miracles. www.cafcp.org.
Collela, W. M. (2005). Switching to a U.S. hydrogen fuel cell vehicle fleet: the resultant change in emissions, energy use,
and greenhouse gases. 150 (150-181).
Ivancic, T. (2010). NMR search for mobile, aluminum-bearing species during reactions of sodium alanate. Washington
University in St. Louis.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (2004). Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Hydrogen Production via
Wind/Electrolysis.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (2011). Wind to Hydrogen Project.
http://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/proj_wind_hydrogen.html.
Princeton Carbon Mitigation Initiative. (2011). The Wedge from Substituting Wind H2 Fuel Cell for Gasoline in Hybrid Car.
http://cmi.princeton.edu/wedges/wind_gas.php.
Renewable Energy World. (2007). First Danish Hydrogen Energy Plant is Operational.
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com.
Socolow, P. a. (2004). Stabilization wedges: solving the climate problem for the next 50 years with current technologies.
305 (968-972).
U.S. Department of Energy. EERE News Hydrogen Safety Fact Sheet.
Univeristy of Montana Mansfield Ethics and Public Affairs Program. (2011). Wind H2 in fuel-cell car for gasoline in hybrid
car. http://www.umt.edu.
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[POLICY]
U.S. Federal Government
Recent brief history of H2 Fuel Cells
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2003: Bush proposes $1.2 billion program in State of the Union Address to fund hydrogen research
2009: $120 million in budget cuts were proposed to DOE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Program.
Funding was re-instated after rallying by U.S. Fuel Cell Council and industry.
2011: Obama administration is endorsing EV development focus and proposed $70 million cut on hydrogen
technology spending next year.
Other issues: Chicken and egg problem. Manufactures say they are ready to make H2 cars right now but that there
are minimal #s fuel stations, but there are no fuel stations because no H2 cars.
Congressional Action
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108th Congress: 34 Bills [5 Passed House,1 Passed Both], H.R. 4818 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005
109th Congress: 34 Bills [7 Passed House, 2 Passed both], S.1281 National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Caitlin Shishido
SMA 521
Washington State
Regional
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CA already has 23 hydrogen fueling stations in operation for 143 H2 fuel cell vehicles around Los Angeles
Legislation
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HB 3170: 2006, Designation of I-5 as Washington Hydrogen Highway
o Sights have since shifted to the “Green Highway”
RCW 82.08.962: Tax Exemptions- sales of machinery and equipment used in generating electricity
RCW 43.325.040: Energy freedom account-Green Incentive account- Energy recovery act
HB 2994: Promoting renewable energy
Other State Activity
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Washington State Fuel Cell Education and Demonstration Program
o Partnership with WA State Dept of Community, Trade, Economic Development & Bonneville Power
Administration
o Trains middle & high school students and teachers about hydrogen and fuel cells
o Provides college internships and education about fuel cells
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
o Development of Hydrogen Safety Best Practices and Hydrogen Data Book
Early Markets and Adopters
o Joint base Lewis-McChord: H2 fuel cell powered fork lifts
King County
Fuel Cell Demonstration Project
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King County’s South Wastewater Treatment Plant in Renton, WA
2008: Demonstrated world’s largest demonstration of a molten carbonate hydrogen fuel cell
2011: Awarded $1 million for continued hydrogen separation and compression research, which has the
potential to lead to lower cost of H2 production
Seattle
2007 International Auto Show
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Demonstration of Hydrogen Now system
o Hydrogen-on-demand system which has an internal catalyst to separate hydrogen from water to power
the vehicle
o Eliminates the need for a vast H2 infrastructure to be built
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Companies Operating in Seattle
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EnerG2 and Alumi-Fuel Power, Inc.
Caitlin Shishido
SMA 521
University of Washington
Offered Courses in H2 Fuel Cell Technology
 Chemical Engineering 345: Introduction to Fuel Cells
 Mechanical Engineering 430: Advanced Energy Conversion Systems
University
of Washington
 Mechanical
Engineering 406: Corrosion and Surface Treatment of Materials
Research on H2 storage using catalysts for ammonia borane, solar hydrogen production, hydrogen infrastructure with a
high penetration of renewable energy.
References
National
FreedomCAR & Fuel Partnership. 2009. Hydrogen Production Roadmap: Technology Pathways to the Future.
Fuhrmans, V. 2011. Hydrogen Fuel Cells are Down, but Perhaps Not Out. Wall Street Journal.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703778104576286620950028178.html
Llanos, M. 2003. Bush sells vision of hydrogen future. MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3339912/t/bush-sells-visionhydrogen-future/#.Tt6MHmOBqU8
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 2011. Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Research. http://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/
Tollefson, J. 2010. Hydrogen vehicles: Fuel of the future? Nature. 464:1262-1264
U.S. Department of Energy. 2002. National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap.
U.S. Department of Energy. 2011. The Department of Energy Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Plan. Pg.6
U.S. Department of Energy. 2011. Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program. http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/fuel_cells.html
Whitman, J. 2011. High Hopes- And Hurdles- For Hydrogen Cars. CNBC.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/43138227/High_Hopes_And_Hurdles_For_Hydrogen_Cars
State
Fuel Cells 2000. 2011. State of the States: Fuel Cells in America. Pg79
Hydrogen Fuel Cars Now. 2011. Hydrogen Highway. http://www.hydrogencarsnow.com/hydrogen-highway.htm
Sjoding, D. and E.Hamernyik. 2008. Overview of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in Washington State. Washington State University Extension
Energy Program.
Washington State. House. Designating state route number 5 as Washington hydrogen highway. HB 3170. 2006.
Washington State. House. An act relating to promoting renewable energy in Washington. HB 2994. 2008.
Washington State. Exemptions- Sales of machinery and equipment used in generating electricity. RCW 82.08.962.
Vowles, M. 2004. Washington State Fuel Cell Education and Demonstration Program FY 2004 Progress Report.
http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/progress04/vii3_vowles.pdf
County
King County. 2009. King County Fuel Cell Demonstration Project Final Report.
King County. 2011. King County fuel cell demonstration project.
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wastewater/EnergyRecovery/fuelcelldemonstration.aspx
U.S. Department of Energy. 2011. Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Technology.
http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/fuelcells/fuelcells_moltencarb.html
City
Hydrogen Fuel Cars Now. 2006. Hydrogen Power Inc. Displays H2 Vehicle at Seattle Auto Show.
http://www.hydrogencarsnow.com/blog2/index.php/hydrogen-cars/hydrogen-power-inc-displays-h2-vehicle-at-seattle-auto-show/
Hydrogen Fuel Cars Now. 2011. Hydrogen On Demand. http://www.hydrogencarsnow.com/hydrogen-on-demand.htm
Sjoding, D. and E.Hamernyik. 2008. Overview of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in Washington State. Washington State University Extension
Energy Program.
UW
Sjoding, D. and E.Hamernyik. 2008. Overview of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in Washington State. Washington State University Extension
Energy Program.
University of Washington. 2011. University of Washington Course Descriptions. http://www.washington.edu/students/crscat/
University of Washington. 2011. Undergraduate Fuel Cell Research. http://depts.washington.edu/fuelcell/