Hydrogen storage papers

I am posting here links of my scientific papers on hydrogen storage that are now available online with full citations. You might be able to access only the abstracts if you or your institute are not registered users of the journals in which these papers were published.

1. First principles calculations of thermal equations of state and thermodynamic properties of MgH2 at finite temperatures, Computational Materials Science, 2008, 42, 510-516.

2. Density functional investigations of electronic structure and dehydrogenation reactions of Al- and Si-substituted magnesium hydride, ChemPhysChem, 2008, 9, 928-934.

Happy reading!!

NHA Press Release: New Hydrogen Website

What Do You Know About Hydrogen?

National Hydrogen Association Launches Educational Initiative

Called “H2 and You”

February 19, 2008

Washington, DC – The National Hydrogen Association’s Hydrogen Education Foundation has launched a nationwide educational campaign to increase understanding about hydrogen.  The initiative includes targeted public relations and the new, informative website: www.H2andYou.org.  The website has been designed to act as a destination for those wanting to learn more about hydrogen while highlighting, in laymen’s terms, new ways hydrogen is being used today and how these uses relate to things people really care about.  The site will answer common questions; present examples of market-ready hydrogen products that provide real energy solutions today; and offer video, podcasts and links to hydrogen news stories.

 

“While many people identify hydrogen as a universal alternative fuel, in general, the public doesn’t yet understand how hydrogen can relate to them,” says Jeffrey A. Serfass, President of the National Hydrogen Association and the Hydrogen Education Foundation. “The H2 and You program is designed to help anyone grasp how hydrogen can be made and how its adoption is already having a positive impact on our lives.”

 

Hydrogen, a universal, highly adaptable fuel, is present in water, plants, minerals and all living things.  Thanks to modern technologies, the energy from virtually any natural resource can be converted to hydrogen and then put to work for things we use every day, helping them operate more cleanly and efficiently.  Just how clean hydrogen is, over its entire lifecycle, depends mainly on how it is produced.  H2 and You will explain the full range of options for producing hydrogen and putting it to work.

 

H2 and You also highlights hydrogen’s current applications.  For example:

• Cell phone towers are currently using hydrogen fuel cells, made by NHA members like Ballard Power, to supply back-up power in the event of electrical outages.  Fuel cells using hydrogen for back-up power are being used in hospitals, credit card processing facilities and other critcal sectors that need to run 24-hours a day.   
• Some of the heavy-duty trucks on America’s roads today are partially fueled by hydrogen.  The hydrogen systems reduce pollution from the trucks by 15 to 75%. 
• Companies like Wal-Mart have adopted hydrogen-fueled forklifts indoors to increase productivity and reduce greenhouse gases.
• Auto manufacturers like Toyota, General Motors, Daimler, Honda and BMW have been testing pre-commercial hydrogen vehicles — many of which are already in the hands of consumers.
• For more examples visit www.h2andyou.org.

“One of the things we would like people to take away from our H2 and You campaign is the significance of hydrogen energy and how its long-term adoption can benefit us all,” said Serfass.  “Hydrogen will play a substantial role in the areas of greater energy security, a cleaner environment and stronger economic growth.”  

 

To see new hydrogen products in person, come to the NHA Annual Hydrogen Conference and Hydrogen Expo US in Sacramento, CA March 30-April 3, 2008.  You will have opportunities to see working hydrogen fuel cells, drive hydrogen cars and take rides in hydrogen buses.  For more information, visit www.HydrogenAssociation.org or Google “hydrogen conference.”

 

Indian govt. targets one million hydrogen cars on the road by 2020

The following news article written by Sonu Jain is taken from the Indian Express June 5, 2007.

On the eve of World Environment Day, the government committed itself to one green technology that may define the future — it has set 2020 as the target year to have 1 million carbon-free hydrogen vehicles on the road.

While many international auto majors, including Honda, Daimler-Chrysler, BMW, Ford, General Motors, have revealed such models, affordable styles are still about five to 10 years away — for a single hydrogen car today, the price tag is $1 million. In India, all models are only at the demonstration stage with no on-road prototype ready yet. Honda FCX is the world’s only fuel-cell vehicle certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

At a conclave organised by the CII today, R. Chidambaram, principal scientific advisor to the Prime Minister; Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission and Ratan Tata, representing the industry, endorsed the National Hydrogen Energy roadmap and decided to prioritise action plans needed to put these vehicles on the road.

The key areas identified for research:

• Production: While the goal is to produce hydrogen from water, the view now is not to wait for that ultimate breakthrough but start producing hydrogen from industrial effluents (chlor-alkali byproducts) and even domestic waste. S. Banerjee, director, Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, is upbeat on the solar and the nuclear options for splitting water to get hydrogen and work has already started on this.

• Storage: It can be stored in solid, liquid and gaseous form. The Benaras Hindu University did groundbreaking work on hydrides that store hydrogen in solid form, considered the safest method. The BHU team has been asked to come up with 50 two-wheelers in the next few years.

• Application: Once the technology is ready, it could be put to use by the transport sector, industry and even smaller applications like cooking stoves and decentralized electricity. Tata is of the opinion that technology for vehicles has to be (internal combustion) IC-engine-based, requiring minimum modification to the existing system.

• Cost: This is the large, looming hurdle. As per current research, if the infrastructure to re-fuel is available and storage sorted out, it would still cost about Rs 200 for the mileage from the Rs 45-per litre of petrol. How much should the government subsidise?

“The cost of developing hydrogen fuel is high but it can be negated if the government can subsidise. However, we need to decide if subsidies should be given on existing applications to increase scale or on research,” said Ahluwalia. He said hydrogen technology was not economic at present and unless subsidised, the fuel would not to be commercially viable. “If we recognise that it is a potential resource, there is no harm in using subsidies to jump start it but….it is unlikely to become a plausible solution in energy security if it continued to be subsidised perpetually,” Ahluwalia added.

For now, there is plenty lying in labs for the industry to move on. “We now need a business model required for successful commercialisation of hydrogen fuel technology,” said S K Chopra, principal advisor and special secretary to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Some of the institutions involved in the research are BHEL, SPIC Science Foundation, Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata, IIT Delhi and Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi. Among projects already up and running are a hydrogen-fuelling station in collaboration with IOC and a demonstration project on hydrogen CNG buses.

International Seminar on Clean Energy

Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur, India is organizing the International Seminar on Clean Energy ISCE-2007 from 15-16th October, 2007. The topics that will be covered during ISCE are:

1. hydrogen and fuel cell
2. biomass energy
3. hybrid automative drive
4. wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable energy
5. energy from waste

The last date for submission of papers has been extended. Those interested are still eligible to apply and can make use of the following instructions for ISCE authors.

Hydrogen and Policy Briefing

HYDROGEN and POLICY: Challenges and Opportunities

A briefing sponsored by the Senate Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus, in cooperation with the National Hydrogen Association and the American Chemical Society’s Science and the Congress Project Thursday, June 21, 2007, 1:30-3:30 pm Mansfield Room, S-207, U.S. Capitol Strong and far-reaching hydrogen and fuel cell provisions were included in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which span everything from basic science to early market transition.  In concert with substantial federal and state programs over the years, many large and small companies, universities, research institutions and national laboratories have worked to solve critical research and development challenges.  There is a large, vibrant and growing hydrogen community in the U.S. and worldwide. This briefing will explore the purposes of the EPAct 05 hydrogen provisions, a hydrogen economy’s premier carbon benefits, the broad efforts of several key companies that are partnering with the U.S Department of Energy in comprehensive RD&D efforts, a package of tax incentives and the opportunities for the 110th Congress.   We expect a vigorous discussion. Hydrogen Highlights: EPAct 05 and Beyond – Jerome Hinkle, National Hydrogen Association Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure: Today’s Status and Tomorrow’s Needs – Richard Goodstein, Air Products and Chemicals Addressing Energy Security and Climate Change: Transforming the Transportation Sector – Keith Cole, General Motors Motive Power for Light and Heavy Vehicles – Judith Bayer, UTC Power Building New Markets for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells – Ethan Brown, Ballard Power Systems  There will be additional displays of hydrogen and fuel cell applications from the Department of Defense.  For further information, please contact Jerome Hinkle of the National Hydrogen Association (202.261.1307).  Please RSVP by June 19th to c_maxwell@acs.org (excepting Hill staff, the Capitol requires an advance attendee list).  After the briefing, several manufacturers will have hydrogen vehicles available at Peace Circle for demonstration.

NOTE- The above announcement was sent by info@hydrogenassociation.org.