As scientists and policymakers explore the feasibility of moving toward a hydrogen-based energy system, what that system will look like is far from certain. For example, hydrogen can be produced through various methods, such as electrolysis, coal gasification, or onboard reformation of gasoline or methanol. Many options also exist for hydrogen storage, distribution, and utilization.

Researchers at Sandia and Hobart and William Smith Colleges are developing the Hydrogen Futures Simulation Model (H2Sim) to allow people to compare different options for a hydrogen-based energy system. The computer simulation provides a means to explore alternative hydrogen enterprise scenarios to assess a broad range of policy and investment issues, such as the following:

• What are the costs and other tradeoffs associated with generating hydrogen from water with nuclear or renewable electricity, or by stripping it from fossil fuels?
• What are the costs and tradeoffs of direct combustion of hydrogen compared to its use in fuel cells?
• What are the tradeoffs associated with onboard conversion of fossil fuel to hydrogen versus centralized hydrogen generation and transportation/storage to refueling stations?
• How will alternative hydrogen scenarios affect carbon and other environmental effluents and U.S. oil import requirements?

Key outputs include delivered hydrogen costs (cost per gallon of gas equivalent), key environmental effluents (carbon), and end-user costs (cost per vehicle mile driven).

The goal of the computer simulation is to provide policy, corporate, and R&D decision makers a better understanding of the options for the hydrogen enterprise and the implications of alternative configurations.

Contacts:
Arnold Baker
Chief Economist
Sandia National Laboratories
abbaker@sandia.gov
(505) 284-4462

Thomas Drennen
Senior Economist
Sandia National Laboratories &
Associate Professor of Economics
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Drennen@hws.edu
(315) 781-3419