The focus of the June issue of Cryogas International is on Sustainability. For our industry, hydrogen rep­resents an important product and market that is directly involved in cre­ating sustainable energy sources. As our review of the recent National Hydrogen Association (NHA) Conference and Expo held in Columbia, SC indicates, while the development of hydrogen infrastructure contin­ues to be strong, funding for its R&D programs faces increasing com­petition from other alternative energy options. As we go to press, funding for hydrogen through the US Department of Energy (DOE) has risen to a level of high interest and engenders deep concern in our industry. DOE very recently terminated all hydrogen R&D and fuel cell vehicle development programs in their FY 2010 budget request (May 7, 2009), leaving only $68 million for non-vehicle fuel cell R&D. The word “hydrogen” was even stripped from the program title, replaced with “Fuel Cell Technologies.” All this proposes in effect the elimination of the US federal hydrogen vehicle program.

Christine Turley’s coverage of the NHA confer­ence notes, in particular the presentation by Dr. JoAnn Milliken, then DOE’s Hydrogen Program Manager, that DOE’s participation, spon­sorship, and funding has successfully impacted increased durability of H2 fuel cells, improved performance of H2 storage, and contributed to the significant decrease in costs of important systems. We well under­stand that the journey towards a “H2 economy” is long and costly, but believe that it is worth it and that eliminating further investments as these technologies begin commercialization and continue substantial progress toward very large future pay-offs is wrong. All of that has been very well described by Drs. Sandy Thomas, Joan Ogden, and others involved in developing the H2 economy. It is hard to imagine how DOE could so significantly slash this important program and abandon the widely preferred existing strategy to embrace a portfolio of technologies. We are dismayed at the FY2010 Request level of only $68 million, a cut of $132 million from the FY’09 Appropriation. This dismay is heightened by the observation that there has been no hear­ing of the H2 fuel cell programs’ long-term advantages in reducing oil consumption and atmospheric carbon.

From the NHA we hear that “The newest fuel cell vehicles get 72 miles per gallon equivalent with no compromise in creature comforts. Fuel cell buses operating in revenue service achieve twice the fuel economy of diesel buses. Hydrogen production costs are already com­petitive with gasoline. Projected vehicle costs have been reduced by 75 percent since 2002. These are accomplishments of the Depart­ment’s own program in partnership with industry. It would truly be a government waste to squander them by walking away just as success is in sight.”

The US Congress will review this budget and decide what will hap­pen next for the federal hydrogen program. If you believe this pro­gram should continue, write your congressman. This is a key alternative fuel issue which, with others, will benefit future generations and the planet.

Let us know your thoughts.

Tags: sustaining hydrogen

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