DOE Hydrogen Gospel Spreads to the Classroom by Jesse Broehl

DOE Hydrogen Gospel Spreads to the Classroom

by Jesse Broehl, Editor, SolarAccess.com

"No gasoline means no imported oil and no problems with pollution or greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles."

- Carl Michael Smith, Assistant Secretary, Office of Fossil Energy

Denver, Colorado - February 10, 2004 [SolarAccess.com] A top U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) official gave middle and elementary school students a glimpse into the future last week by demonstrating hydrogen fuel technologies designed to reduce pollution and end America's dependence on foreign oil.

"As adults you will be entering the most technically challenging living and work environment the world has ever known," Carl Michael Smith, Assistant Secretary, Office of Fossil Energy, told students at Rishel Middle School in Denver, according to a DOE statement on the event. "Math is the gateway and science is the key to world marketplace technological competitiveness."

Assistant Secretary Smith leads the Department's fossil energy program and is responsible for the government's research aimed at developing "clean and efficient" coal technologies and other energy technologies that can play a role in producing hydrogen for future automobiles and other uses.

Nothing in the DOE's press release indicated the students were also introduced to some of the complexities surrounding hydrogen.

While it does stand the chance to radically change and improve the way energy is created and used, it also poses many challenges. Critics continually decry the DOE's pursuit of a hydrogen economy through "clean coal" and other non-renewable energy means, but regardless, this remains the major DOE ambition for hydrogen. Concerns are raised that dependence on foreign oil will simply be shifted to dependence on domestic coal.

Demonstrating a hydrogen-powered model car, Smith explained that the hydrogen fuel cell process can produce electricity to operate cars and other vehicles and devices with no pollution.

"The only by-product is pure water," he said, explaining that fuel-cell technology could someday replace the gasoline-fueled internal combustion engines that power the cars and trucks of today. "No gasoline means no imported oil and no problems with pollution or greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles."

Therein lies the rub, according to many in the energy industry.

Yes, there would be no pollution from automobiles, but manufacturing the hydrogen for these cars would still create greenhouse gases and pollution unless renewable energy technologies such as solar and wind were used. Even that process is questioned since there is substantial energy loss the renewables-to-hydrogen process. Some experts in those industries would prefer to see their technologies focused on producing grid-ready electricity that would offset fossil fuel generation elsewhere.

Perhaps the DOE will glean additional insight into these problems from the next generation of scientists.

"It's important that we prepare and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers who will lead the transition to a hydrogen-based economy and build the machines and infrastructure that will make it a reality," Smith said. "The coming hydrogen economy will offer many different careers and jobs - including the technical, educational, administrative and marketing areas, to name a few. Through team-based, hands-on experiences such as building the model fuel cell cars, students can get a glimpse of what their futures may hold."

For Further Information:

• DOE Hydrogen Fuel

• National Hydrogen Association

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