**Centralized Hydrogen Production from Biomass Gasification**

Biomass-derived hydrogen is another low-CO~2~ impact process for the
production of hydrogen. Biomass (wood, agricultural residues or energy
crops) absorbs as much CO~2~ from the atmosphere during growth as is
released during the conversion to hydrogen. In this diagram, we show the
CO~2~ being recycled by photosynthesis into additional biomass. It would
be possible to capture and sequester the CO~2~ from the PSA unit
resulting in a hydrogen process with net negative CO~2~ emissions. The
petroleum energy use and the CO~2~ emissions from this process are
associated with operations related to growing the biomass and making it
available to the hydrogen process, production electricity use, and
hydrogen delivery.

![](media/image1.wmf){width="6.4944444444444445in"
height="4.008333333333334in"}

  -------------------- ------------ ------------ ---------------- ----------------
  **Well-to-Wheels                                                
  Energy and                                                      
  Greenhouse Gas                                                  
  Emissions Data**                                                

                       **Current    **Current    **Current (2005) **Future (2030)
                       (2005)       (2005)       Biomass          Biomass
                       Gasoline ICE Gasoline     Gasification -   Gasification -
                       Vehicle**    Hybrid       FCV**            FCV**
                                    Electric                      
                                    Vehicle**                     

  **Well-to-Wheels     5,900        4,200        6,600            3,600
  Total Energy Use                                                
  (Btu/mile)**                                                    

  **Well-to-Wheels     5,300        3,800        200              100
  Petroleum Energy Use                                            
  (Btu/mile)**                                                    

  **Well-to-Wheels     470          340          190              30
  Greenhouse Gas                                                  
  Emissions (g/mile)**                                            

  **Cost of Hydrogen                             5.10             2.40
  (\$/gge,                                                        
  Delivered)**                                                    
  -------------------- ------------ ------------ ---------------- ----------------

> **Notes: Centralized Hydrogen Production from Biomass Gasification**

1.  Source: Well-to-wheels energy, petroleum and greenhouse gas
    emissions information from the Argonne National Laboratory GREET
    model, Version 1.7. Well-to-wheels values represent primary fuel
    production, electricity production, hydrogen production, and
    hydrogen delivery. Fossil resource exploration and equipment
    manufacture is not included.

2.  Source: Cost, resource requirements, energy requirements, all fuel
    and feedstock energy contents, and efficiency values for the
    Current (2005) case is from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
    and the H2A model, Version 1.0.9, for a Central Biomass production
    facility with a capacity of 155,000 kg/day.

3.  Source: Cost, resource requirements, energy requirements, all fuel
    and feedstock energy contents, and efficiency values for the
    Future (2030) case is from the H2A model cases modified to reflect
    the Department of Energy's Hydrogen Fuel Cells, and Infrastructure
    Technologies Program 2015 cost goals as of November 2005.

4.  Basis is 1 kg of hydrogen, dispensed from filling station for 5,000
    psi fills. A kg of hydrogen contains approximately the same amount
    of energy as one gallon of gasoline, or one gallon of gasoline
    equivalent (gge).

5.  Diagram is for Future (2030) case, showing feedstock and energy
    consumption levels required to meet technology cost goals. Flows in
    diagram represent direct energy and emissions between production and
    dispensing, and are not based on well-to-wheels calculations.

6.  The petroleum use and resultant GHG emissions are associated with
    growing the biomass, and the grid electricity for delivery.
    Fossil-based power plants generating grid electricity for the
    future (2030) case are assumed to sequester carbon emissions at a
    rate of 85%.

7.  Biomass is assumed to be woody biomass, most likely obtained from a
    residue source (e.g., urban trimmings) or energy crops.

8.  The hydrogen delivery in the Current (2005) case assumes liquid
    hydrogen delivery by truck from a central plant located 76 miles
    from the forecourt station. Liquefier efficiency is 77.4%. Truck
    fuel consumption is 6 mi/gallon. Data were obtained from the H2A
    Delivery Scenario Model and GREET. The Future (2030) case assumes
    hydrogen pipeline delivery over 76 miles. Delivery costs include
    necessary compression and/or liquefaction equipment.

9.  Cost of hydrogen delivery for the Current (2005) and Future (2030)
    cases is assumed to be \$3.50/kg and \$1.00/kg, respectively.

10. For the current (2005) case, hydrogen is assumed to be received at
    the forecourt as a liquid and dispensed as a gas for 5,000 psi
    fills. For the future (2030) case, hydrogen is assumed to be
    received at the forecourt as gaseous hydrogen at 250 psi by pipeline
    and dispensed for 5,000 psi fills. The cost of these forecourt
    operations is included in the delivery cost.

11. Efficiency results are presented in terms of lower heating value
    (LHV) of hydrogen.

12. Future (2030) case assumes pipeline compressed gas delivery to the
    forecourt station. Pipeline energy use calculated using the H2A
    Delivery Models.

13. The efficiency of the electric forecourt compressor, which raises
    the pressure of the gaseous hydrogen for 5000 phi fills, is 94%.

14. The operating capacity factor of the production plant is 90%.

15. Electricity is consumed by the process for plant operations and
    delivery. Electricity prices are based on the 2015 projections for
    industrial-rate electricity by the Department of Energy's Energy
    Information Administration Annual Energy Outlook 2005 High A case.
    Prices shown in table are in 2005 \$. Electricity is inflated at
    1.9%/year for the 40 year operating life of the plant.

16. The levelized capital cost for the Current (2005) and Future (2030)
    cases are \$0.49/kg hydrogen and \$0.47/kg of hydrogen; capital cost
    estimate increases because of increased contingency to account for
    uncertainty in project projections and technology in the 2030
    timeframe.

17. Cost of hydrogen is the minimum required to obtain a 10% internal
    rate of return after taxes on the capital investment.

18. The data relevant to the Centralized Hydrogen Production from
    Biomass Gasification technology diagram above is provided in the
    table below.

  ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------
                                           **Current (2005) **Future (2030)
                                           Biomass          Biomass
                                           Gasification -   Gasification -
                                           FCV**            FCV**

  **Biomass Feedstock Price (\$/million    2.26             2.26
  Btu LHV)**                                                

  **Biomass Feedstock Price (\$/bone dry   38.00            38.00
  ton)**                                                    

  **Energy in Biomass Feedstock (Btu)**    252,000          222,000

  **Electricity Price (\$/kWh)**           0.052            0.052

  **Electricity to Process (Btu)**         5,000            3,000

  **Energy Losses from Process (Btu)**     141,000          109,000

  **Pressure of Hydrogen from Production   300              300
  (psi)**                                                   

  **Energy Use for Delivery Operations at  Negligible       7,200
  the Forecourt (Btu)**                                     

  **Energy Use for Delivery Transport      34,000           2,000
  (Btu)**                                                   

  **Hydrogen Dispensing Fill Pressure      5,000            5,000
  (psi)**                                                   

  **Plant Gate Energy Use Including        257,000          225,000
  Biomass (Btu)**                                           

  **Production Process Efficiency**        45%              52%

  **Pathway Efficiency**                   40%              49%

  **Greenhouse Gas Emissions from          2.3              2.0
  Production (lb/gge of hydrogen                            
  produced)**                                               
  ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------