Transportation and Climate Change: The Potential for Hydrogen Systems

Conference · Wed Mar 31 00:00:00 EST 2004

OSTI ID:15007642

Geffen, Charlette A; Edmonds, James A; Kim, Son H

New technologies are being developed to serve the growing energy needs of the transportation sector without the environmental impacts observed with conventional technologies. In a world where emissions of carbon are severely constrained, hydrogen-powered vehicles (using fuel cells, internal combustion engines, or other) may be the best alternative for meeting societal needs. Programs to develop these technologies have emerged as high priorities for the automotive and energy industries, as well as governments worldwide. There are a number of challenges that must be faced, however, before we can effectively transition the current fossil fuel based system to a future hydrogen (H2) based system for the mobility industry. Full conversion of the existing transportation system will require concurrent availability of appropriate fuel sources and related infrastructure at acceptable costs and with a clear understanding of their environmental implications. This paper provides a framework for evaluating the challenges and potential pathways for the transition from our current petroleum-based energy sources for transportation systems to a future hydrogen-based system. A preliminary evaluation of the implications of moving to a hydrogen-based transportation system was conducted using the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL) integrated assessment model that evaluates the economic and environmental implications of various technology options. Future research activities will focus on alternative development pathways that consider infrastructure requirements and impacts as well as sequential, complementary and competitive technology development interactions.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 15007642
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-40239; KP1703030; TRN: US200419%%397
• Resource Relation: Conference: Environmental sustainability in the mobility industry : technology and business challenges, SAE World Congress, Detroit, Mich., SP (Society of Automotive Engineers) , 1865:13-20
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
AVAILABILITY
BUSINESS
CARBON
CLIMATES
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EVALUATION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL CELLS
HYDROGEN
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
transportation
climate change
energy
hydrogen
fossil fuel
economy