13 - Progress in hydrogen energy infrastructure development—addressing technical and institutional barriers

Abstract

Hydrogen energy technologies and policies continue to mature, and infrastructure development to support mobile and stationary applications is of growing importance to meet global and national energy security, economic development, and environmental protection goals. This chapter focuses on hydrogen energy infrastructure and uses examples from China and the United States to illustrate recent progress and future challenges. Substantial advances in hydrogen production, delivery, and storage system technical, cost, and performance targets have been achieved via dedicated research and development programs over the last two decades. Progress is also being achieved in manufacturing processes, technology validation, and codes and standards development. Demonstration of fuel cell vehicles (FCV), fuel cell buses (FCB), and associated infrastructure is a priority in China, the United States, and in other countries. Pre-commercial demonstrations include hydrogen production facilities, fuel stations, and maintenance stations to support FCV and FCB fleets. Large-scale FCV and FCB demonstrations, such as those at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 Shanghai World Exposition, are being successfully implemented and expanded. Public private partnerships to achieve technical and cost targets for commercialization and market scale-up are now a priority. However, infrastructure investment finance remains a challenge, and national and local transport sector policies will need to adjust as hydrogen energy technologies are commercialized and move into the marketplace.