As the world strives to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and find sustainable transportation solutions, University of Houston (UH) energy researchers suggest that H₂ fuel can potentially be a cost-competitive and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional liquid fuels, and that supplying H₂ for transportation in the greater Houston area can be profitable today.

A white paper titled " Competitive Pricing of Hydrogen as an Economic Alternative to Gasoline and Diesel for the Houston Transportation Sector" examines the promise for the potential of H₂-powered fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) to significantly reduce GHG emissions in the transportation sector. More than 230 MM metric tpy of CO₂ gas are released by the transportation sector in Texas.

Traditional liquid transportation fuels like gasoline and diesel are preferred because of their higher energy density. Unlike vehicles using gasoline, which releases harmful CO₂, and diesel – which contributes to harmful ground-level ozone, fuel cell electric vehicles refuel with H₂ in five minutes and produce zero emissions.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, Houston had approximately 5.5-MM registered vehicles in the fiscal year 2022. Imagine if all these vehicles were using H₂ for fuel. Houston, home to many H₂ plants for industrial use, offers several advantages, according to the researchers.

"It has more than sufficient water and commercial filtering systems to support H₂ generation," the study states. "Add to that the existing natural gas pipeline infrastructure, which makes H₂ production and supply more cost effective and makes Houston ideal for transitioning from traditional vehicles to H₂-powered ones."

Co-authors of the paper are Christine Ehlig-Economides, professor and Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Chair at UH; Paulo Liu, research associate in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at UH; and Alexander Economides, a UH alumnus and co-founder and chief executive officer of Kiribex Inc., a global carbon-credit issuance service and marketplace that specializes in the monetization of carbon credits derived from industrial and agricultural CO₂ capture, storage and utilization-related efforts.

The study compares three H₂ generation processes: steam methane reforming (SMR), SMR with carbon capture (SMRCC), and electrolysis using grid electricity and water. The researchers used the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)’s H2A tools to provide cost estimates for these pathways, and the H₂ Delivery Scenario Analysis Model (HDSAM) developed by Argonne National Laboratory to generate the delivery model and costs.

Additionally, it compares the cost of grid H₂ with SMRCC H₂, showing that without tax credit incentive SMRCC H₂ can be supplied at a lower cost of $6.10/kg H₂ at the pump, which makes it competitive.

"This research underscores the transformative potential of H₂ in the transportation sector," Ehlig-Economides said. "Our findings indicate that H₂ can be a cost-competitive and environmentally responsible choice for consumers, businesses and policymakers in the greater Houston area."