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A Life Cycle Analysis of Hydrogen Production for Buildings and Vehicles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Kendra Tupper
Affiliation:
tupper@colorado.edu, Univeristy of Colorado, Boulder, Building Systems Program, 3093 Redstone Lane, Boulder, CO, 80305, United States, 508-243-2472
Jan F Kreider
Affiliation:
jfk@well.com, Univeristy of Colorado, Boulder, Building Systems Program
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Abstract

Aspects of the hydrogen economy are addressed by quantifying impacts and costs associated with a hydrogen-based energy infrastructure. It is recommended that hydrogen (H2) is produced from Solar Thermochemical (STC) Cycles and Wind Electrolysis, with the possible use of Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) to aid in the creation of a hydrogen infrastructure. Despite high impact assessment results from SimaPro, the external costs associated with Biomass gasification are shown to be comparable with those for Wind Electrolysis. Thus, biomass-produced hydrogen could also be a viable alternative, especially in areas ideally suited to the growth of energy crops. Finally, the most influential life cycle stages are the Construction of the FCV and Hydrogen Production (except for the environmentally benign wind electrolysis). For the Wind/Electrolysis case, the majority of impacts come from plant construction.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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References

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