Fossil Hydrogen Strategy Energy Enabling A Low-Carbon Economy OFFICE OF OIL & NATURAL GAS

Hydrogen Future The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has focused on developing and advancing technologies that will enable and expand a domestic hydrogen (H2) economy over the past three decades.

H2 is the simplest and most abundant element in the universe and occurs naturally on earth in compound form. Carbon-neutral or even carbon- negative H2 can be produced from fossil fuels, biomass, and waste plastics. H2 unites the Nation’s natural gas, coal, nuclear, and renewable energy resources and H2 produced from fossil fuels can play an important role in the transition to clean, low- Additions to original EERE illustration to represent FE carbon energy systems (Figure 1). role in Hydrogen Economy Transition to a Hydrogen Economy Figure 1. Integration of Fossil Energy into the Hydrogen Economy DOE is well positioned to accelerate a transition to an H2 economy, and FE is and distribution of large quantities of co-firing biomass. H2 production from committed to advancing technology low-cost H2 in a complex infrastructure fossil resources is readily scalable solutions that utilize the Nation’s vast that can provide the necessary using existing technologies. At present, fossil energy resources. quantities to end users. H2 generation from gasification and reforming are the only ways to generate FE’s research and development (R&D) Hydrogen Production the necessary quantities at reasonable programs can be divided into four costs. Figure 2 provides an overview of major focus areas: and Costs Currently, the United States produces hydrogen uses and national benefits and 1. Carbon-Neutral Hydrogen Production more than 10 million metric tons shows the relationship of FE’s R&D using Gasification and Reforming program elements to support a hydrogen (MMT) of hydrogen annually, with Technologies; economy in the United States. 95 percent produced from natural gas 2. Large-Scale Hydrogen Transport via steam methane reforming (SMR), Infrastructure; 4 percent by coal gasification, and Hydrogen Export 3. Large-Scale Onsite and Geological 1 percent by the electrolysis of water. Opportunities Hydrogen Storage; and Global H2 production is approximately FE previously worked in H2 handling 4. Hydrogen Use for Electricity 70 MMT, with 76 percent from SMR, and can leverage its efforts on liquefied Generation, Fuels, and Manufacturing. 22 percent from coal gasification, and natural gas. This experience will help 2 percent from electrolysis. DOE identify the safety and terminal Hydrogen Infrastructure requirements that are necessary to The vision of a decarbonized world Through the use of carbon capture, export U.S. H2 to countries that are where all energy sources produce H storage, and utilization (CCUS) 2 shifting to a H2 economy. In those as a common fuel, energy storage technologies demonstrated by FE, markets, H2 can be used fossil fuels are the lowest cost source medium, and chemical processing for electricity, manufacturing, of carbon-neutral hydrogen and are component runs directly through transportation, and residential purposes. infrastructure development. A broad- negative (below-zero carbon) when based H2 market requires production

OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY

Emerging Markets for All these uses would eventually For additional information, please Hydrogen create major increases in H2 demand, contact the following FE personnel: and they would potentially require As we get closer to a decarbonized Regis Conrad foreign markets to be opened for H2 world, H2 presents long-term potential exported from the United States. U.S. Department of Energy in many sectors beyond existing Office of Fossil Energy industrial applications. If the cost of DOE Research and Office of Clean Coal & H production and utilization can be 2 Development Carbon Management made significantly lower compared Division Director, to the cost of other fossil fuels, it At DOE, the offices of Fossil Advanced Energy Systems could be used to run transportation, Energy, Energy Efficiency and [email protected] buildings, and power sectors. Some Renewable Energy, and Nuclear Energy, are collaborating on Timothy Reinhardt of the emerging uses of H2 include electric grid management, energy research areas and technologies for U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy storage and fuel cell vehicles, as well H2 production, transport, delivery, and storage, along with power Office of Oil and Natural Gas as blending H2 into existing natural gas pipelines and decarbonizing industrial production via fuel cells, Director, Division of Supply & Delivery processes, such as steel production, electrolysis, and turbines. [email protected] cement production, and other chemical engineering applications.

Hydrogen production from diverse domestic resources including natural gas and coal

Hydrogen turbines and HH Establish hydrogen’s fuel cells enable carbon- presence as a critical neutral to negative emission feedstock for chemicals power applications and liquid fuels

Utilize existing and future gas Contribute “responsive turbine assets in centralized Widespread load” on grid using simple cycle hydrogen turbines to and distributed power availability of enable grid stability and generation systems carbon-neutral or negative greenhouse gas gigawatt-hour energy storage emissions hydrogen Allow coal with CCUS to run as base load with Support hydrogen-enabled innovations in domestic hydrogen production industries for storage and use

Energy Security Economic Prosperity Resiliency

Figure 2. Relationship of FE Program Elements to Comprehensive Hydrogen Strategy

For more information, visit: July 2020 fossil.energy.gov Fossil Energy