Hydrogen Production Cost Independent Review

The Department of Energy (DOE) today gives notice of a request for information and an independent progress assessment by the DOE Hydrogen Program in meeting research and development (R&D) cost goals for production of hydrogen using distributed natural gas reforming technology. A review panel is being assembled by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Hydrogen Program Systems Integrator to review the current state of distributed natural gas reforming technology and costs. Based on the findings of the panel, the Systems Integrator will submit a written report to DOE on or before April 1, 2006. Position papers regarding the cost of hydrogen production via distributed natural gas reforming will be accepted by the Systems Integrator for consideration by the review panel. In addition, the panel may hear presentations from submitters as part of the assessment.
The transition to a hydrogen economy will take decades. During this transition, it is anticipated that a primary source of hydrogen for use in transportation by light duty fuel cell vehicles will be the distributed reforming of hydrogen from natural gas. This method is anticipated because (1) reforming is already a mature technology for some applications, (2) it conceivably can be cost competitive with other fuels and technologies in the transition timeframe, (3) the natural gas feedstock is accessable and dispersed, and (4) distributed production avoids a large scale hydrogen delivery/distribution infrastructures during the transition period. The following table shows the DOE cost goal status and targets over time for this production method. As calendar year 2005 comes to an end, an assessment of progress toward the $3.00/gge target is needed. fuelcellsworks