As concerns about greenhouse gas emissions continue to escalate, the need for sustainable transportation solutions becomes more urgent. In this pursuit, energy researchers at the University of Houston have conducted a study suggesting that hydrogen fuel could potentially be a competitive and environmentally friendly substitute for traditional liquid fuels. Their research indicates that supplying hydrogen for transportation in the greater Houston area could, in fact, be profitable today.
In their white paper, titled “Competitive Pricing of Hydrogen as an Economic Alternative to Gasoline and Diesel for the Houston Transportation Sector,” the researchers explore the promise of hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the transportation sector. To put things into perspective, the transportation sector in Texas alone emits over 230 million metric tons of carbon dioxide gas each year.
The primary advantage of traditional liquid transportation fuels such as gasoline and diesel lies in their high energy density. However, vehicles fueled by these sources release harmful carbon dioxide emissions (in the case of gasoline) or contribute to harmful ground-level ozone (in the case of diesel). On the other hand, fuel cell electric vehicles powered by hydrogen can be refueled in just five minutes and produce zero emissions.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were approximately 5.5 million registered vehicles in Houston in the fiscal year 2022. The potential impact of transitioning all these vehicles to hydrogen fuel is substantial.
Houston, already home to numerous hydrogen plants for industrial use, possesses several advantages for hydrogen production and supply, as highlighted by the study. It has abundant water resources and robust commercial filtering systems to support hydrogen generation. Additionally, the existing natural gas pipeline infrastructure in Houston makes hydrogen production and supply more cost-effective, making the city an ideal candidate for transitioning from conventional vehicles to hydrogen-powered ones.
The co-authors of the white paper are Christine Ehlig-Economides, a professor and the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Chair at UH; Paulo Liu, a research associate in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at UH; and Alexander Economides, a UH alumnus and the co-founder and CEO of Kiribex Inc., a global carbon-credit issuance service and marketplace specializing in the monetization of carbon credits derived from industrial and agricultural carbon dioxide capture, storage, and utilization efforts.
The study compares three hydrogen generation processes: steam methane reforming (SMR), SMR with carbon capture (SMRCC), and electrolysis using grid electricity and water. Using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) H2A tools, the researchers provide cost estimates for these pathways. Additionally, they employ the Hydrogen Delivery Scenario Analysis Model (HDSAM) developed by Argonne National Laboratory to generate the delivery model and associated costs.
Furthermore, the study compares the cost of grid hydrogen with SMRCC hydrogen, revealing that SMRCC hydrogen can be supplied at a lower cost of $6.10 per kilogram at the pump, making it a competitive alternative.
The findings of this research highlight the potential of hydrogen fuel as a viable and cost-effective replacement for gasoline and diesel in the transportation sector. By adopting hydrogen-powered vehicles, not only can greenhouse gas emissions be significantly reduced, but local economies can also benefit from the profitable production and supply of hydrogen. As the world continues to prioritize environmental sustainability, hydrogen fuel presents a compelling solution for a greener and more sustainable future.
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- Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
- We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
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