Comparison of environmental and economic aspects of various hydrogen production methods

• Published in: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 553 - 563
• Main Authors: Kothari, Richa, Buddhi, D., Sawhney, R.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2008; Oxford Elsevier
• Series: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Combustion and energy production; Cost; Economic data; Energy; Energy economics; Environmental and economical aspects; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; General, economic and professional studies; Hydrogen; Hydrogen Environmental and economical aspects Pollution Cost; Miscellaneous; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution; Environmental and economical aspects; Hydrogen; Cost; Carbon dioxide; Reforming; Conversion; Pollutant emission; Hydraulic power; Wind energy; Renewable energy; Environment impact; Solar energy; Technicoeconomic study; Production; Fossil fuel; Gasification; Oxidation; Cost analysis; Comparative study
• ISSN: 1364-0321; 1879-0690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2006.07.012

A wide variety of processes are available for hydrogen production from gaseous or liquid fuels. They differ according to the nature of the primary fuel used (ammonia, methanol, ethanol, gaseous or liquid hydrocarbons, water) and to the chemical reactions involved (decomposition, steam reforming, partial oxidation, electrolysis, gasification).
As recent technology progress makes hydrogen a realistic long-term energy option with little or no pollution, developments of new methods for its production and improvement of conventional technology are important. This paper analyzes the recent development of hydrogen production technologies followed by an overview of conventional and renewable energy sources and a discussion about enviro-economic aspects for hydrogen production methods. The results show that although renewable energy resources cannot entirely satisfy the energy demand but electrolysis associated with solar energy, wind power, hydropower and biomass are available renewable sources for significant hydrogen production.