Next Generation Hydrogen Production

Given the pricing volatility of petroleum-based fuels, geopolitical instability influencing their supply and public awareness of their effect on the environment, investors are increasingly supporting clean energy sources. Hydrogen's minimal impact on the environment makes it an excellent potential source for mobile, distributed and even centralised power. Hydrogen production technology is a key step in making this clean energy carrier economically available on a wide scale. This study addresses in detail those technologies being developed for converting feedstocks into hydrogen. It examines candidate hydrogen production systems and provides insight into the most viable technologies while addressing the advantages and disadvantages for meeting economically feasible hydrogen production. Find out about:

• Current and emerging hydrogen production technologies
• Major market segments for hydrogen, and regulatory and governmental drivers
• Hydrogen feedstock options, lifecycle analysis of hydrogen production systems, recent advances in global research, and future technology trends
  

Essential reading for:

• Technology managers and hydrogen processing equipment suppliers
• High-pressure storage, sorption material and hydride suppliers
• Fuel cell materials and component suppliers, propulsion, power generation and energy storage specialists
  

CONTENTS

Executive Summary

Introduction

• Report overview
• Hydrogen industry overview
• Hydrogen market overview
• Future technology and market trends
• Hydrogen energy research

Hydrogen production fundamentals

• Hydrogen feedstock options

1. Water, natural gas, petroleum distillates, coal, bio-gas, anaerobic gas
2. Manufactured H2 fuels

• Hydrogen production systems

1. Current technology overview
2. Centralised

• Refinery systems
• Fertiliser production facilities
• Industrial gas facilities
• Distributed

1. Electrolysers
2. Steam reformers

• Portable

Regulatory and governmental drivers

• State and regional
• National and global

Transition to low -carbon or renewable feedstocks

• Natural gas from petroleum distillates
• Biomass - food waste
• Waste water treatment
• Landfill gas
• Coal
• Cellulose based
• Algae
• Carbon free (e.g. water)

Emerging hydrogen production systems

• Natural gas reforming
• Coal gasification
• Biomass gasification
• Anaerobic digestion)
• Electrolytic
• Photolytic - thermochemical
• Biologic
• Waste hydrogen capture
• High-temperature fuel cell co-production

Hydrogen production systems analysis

• Cost - performance comparisons
• Lifecycle analysis of candidate production systems
• Centralised hydrogen production
• Decentralised hydrogen production
• Purification techniques
• Pressure swing adsorption
• Enhanced high-temperature membranes

Future hydrogen production

• Future feedstocks and production processes
• Latest trends and research

Tables and Figures

• Hydrogen market outlook, 2009-19
• Major hydrogen producers
• Comparison of current hydrogen production methods
• Hydrogen production technology transition table, 2009 and 2019
• Economic comparison of hydrogen production technologies
• Outlook for hydrogen demand in key sectors
• Outlook for regional production of hydrogen
• Hydrogen feedstock technology transition table, 2009 and 2014
• Regulatory drivers per region, 2009
• Major national research programmes with funding
• Lifecycle comparison of hydrogen production systems
• Steam reforming diagram
• Percentage of hydrogen used in major markets
• Biomass gasification
• Centralised vs. decentralized hydrogen production
• Global distribution of excess renewable energy availability (solar, wind, geothermal)