Hydrogen from Fossil Fuels without Co2 Emissions

Abstract

In the nearto medium-term future, hydrogen production will continue to rely on fossil fuels, primarily natural gas (NG). It is generally understood that the renewable energy-based processes of hydrogen production (photoelectrochemical and photobiological decomposition of water, solar-photovoltaic water electrolysis, thermochemical and hybrid water splitting cycles, etc.) would unlikely yield significant reduction in hydrogen costs in the next 1-2 decades. The future of nuclear power systems, a relatively clean and abundant energy source, still remains uncertain due to strong public opposition. In general, given the advantages inherent in fossil fuels such as their availability, cost-competitiveness, convenience of storage and transportation, they are likely to play a major role in global energy supply for the next century. On the other hand, fossil fuels are major source of anthropogenic CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. Various scenarios of global energy use in the next century predict a continued increase in CO2 emissions that would gradually rise its concentration in the atmosphere to dangerous levels. It is clear that the industrialized world would not be able to retain present living standards and meet challenges of global warming, unless major changes are made in the way we produce energy, and manage carbon emissions. There are several possible ways to mitigate CO2 emission problems. Among them are traditional approaches including: (i) more efficient use of fossil fuel energy resources, (ii) increased use of clean fossil fuels, such as NG, and (iii) increased use of non-fossil fuels (nuclear power and renewable sources). The novel and most radical approach to effectively manage carbon emissions is the decarbonization of fossil fuels. Three main scenarios of fossil fuels decarbonization are currently discussed in the literature: