Home > Systems Integration > Peer Reviews > Cost of Distributed Hydrogen Production

Printable Version

Cost of Distributed Hydrogen Production from Natural Gas

An independent review panel recently assessed progress towards DOE's 2005 technical target- $3/gallon of gasoline equivalent (gge)-for the cost of distributed hydrogen production from natural gas (PDF 924 KB). Download Adobe Reader.

Using DOE's hydrogen analysis model (H2A), the panel estimated the total cost of delivered hydrogen in 2005 assuming an installation rate of 500 new forecourt units per year. The panel's resulting total cost, including a 10% internal rate of return, is $2.75-$3.50 per kilogram. The DOE target for distributed hydrogen production from natural gas is within that range, and thus adequate progress has been made.

For more information, refer to the Independent Review Panel Report on Distributed Hydrogen Production from Natural Gas (PDF 586 KB). Download Adobe Reader.

Review Panel

Jim Fletcher

Jim Fletcher has worked in the clean energy field for the past 15 years. His graduate studies at the University of Florida included modeling, analysis, and testing of methanol-fueled phosphoric acid fuel cell engines and proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell engines utilized in fuel cell bus programs at the U.S. departments of Energy and Transportation. As the department head of systems engineering at XCELLSiS, he was chief design engineer for limited-production hydrogen-PEM fuel cell engines (used by DaimlerChrysler and Ford Motor Company) as well as prototype hydrogen-PEM fuel cell engines (used by most major automotive companies). In addition, he worked for UTC Fuel Cells as lead systems engineer on the Next Generation Bus Project.

As director of the Clean and Renewable Energy Laboratory at the University of North Florida, Fletcher is currently involved in a variety of clean energy and alternative fuels research. He has participated on various government panels including the DOE go/no-go panel for on-board fuel processing and the National Academies of Science panel to evaluate the benefits of fuel cell R&D.

Vincent Callaghan

Vincent Callaghan provides technology services for the power industry. After 18 years in the nuclear power industry, working for Westinghouse and Combustion Engineering, and 18 years in the fuel cell industry, working for UTC, Callaghan began his technology consulting activities. He currently supports Westinghouse on its nuclear power industry engineering efforts and provides support to Georgetown University's fuel cell bus programs.

Callaghan has a wide range of experience in engineering for power plant systems and component design and analysis, manufacturing, and operations. He was UTC's engineering and program manager for its new 100 kW fuel cell power plant, compact lightweight methane or methanol to hydrogen fuel processor, and lightweight transient-capable phosphoric acid fuel cell stack, which powers the first full-size transit bus at Georgetown University.

Callaghan graduated from the University of Detroit in 1967 with a BSME. He holds technology patents for nuclear and fuel cell industry components and systems.