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Why Hydrogen?The President’s Hydrogen Initiative is committed towards research, development, and demonstration of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for our national energy security, environmental commitment, and economic stability. To learn more about these, click on the following links: National Energy Security
Presently, the United States accounts for 24% [1] of the world's total oil consumption, yet possesses less than 2% [2] of the world's proven oil reserves. Over 65% of the crude oil consumed in the United States is imported, and that percentage is currently expected to rise to 71% by 2030. [3] The transportation sector relies almost exclusively on refined petroleum products, accounting for 68% of the oil used. [4] The increasing dependence on foreign sources of oil makes the United States vulnerable to supply disruptions and price fluctuations that occur outside of the country. As a Nation, we can begin to reduce our dependence on imported oil in a manner that is affordable and preserves environmental quality by shifting to a hydrogen-based economy. Oil consumption in the United States has been steadily increasing over the past 25 years. In the short term, conservation and the use of highly efficient hybrid-electric vehicles can slow the overall rate of growth of oil consumption. Even with the significant energy efficiency benefits that gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles and diesels can provide, we ultimately must find an alternative fuel that can be domestically produced. [5]
Today, natural gas reformation is the cheapest and most common way to produce hydrogen. When compared to conventional vehicles using gasoline, fuel cell vehicles using hydrogen produced from natural gas reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60%. [6] While natural gas reformation can provide a bridge to the hydrogen future, it is not ideal in the long term because it too is a limited resource. Hydrogen production from other resources must be developed to obtain the full energy and environmental benefits of a hydrogen economy. |
In the long term, energy security will be achieved only by finding a substitute for gasoline. Hydrogen, particularly when used in fuel cells for transportation, offers an alternative that can reduce or even eliminate our dependence on foreign oil and improve our energy security. Hydrogen can be produced from many domestic resources, including fossil fuels, such as natural gas and coal; renewable energy resources, such as solar energy, wind, and biomass; and nuclear energy. Developing clean, efficient, and cost-effective hydrogen production, however, is a significant challenge. Hydrogen is not a fuel that exists in nature in a readily usable form, such as natural gas or coal. It more closely resembles electricity—an energy carrier that must be generated from another fuel source.Back to Top |
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