Hydrogen Future

The U.S. Department of Energy’s 

(DOE) Office of Fossil Energy 

(FE) has focused on developing and 

advancing technologies that will enable 

and expand a domestic hydrogen (H2) 

economy over the past three decades. 

H2 is the simplest and most abundant 

element in the universe and occurs 

naturally on earth in compound form. 

Carbon-neutral or even carbonnegative H2 can be produced from 

fossil fuels, biomass, and waste 

plastics. H2 unites the Nation’s natural 

gas, coal, nuclear, and renewable 

energy resources and H2 produced 

from fossil fuels can play an important 

role in the transition to clean, lowcarbon energy systems (Figure 1).

Transition to a Hydrogen 

Economy

DOE is well positioned to accelerate a 

transition to an H2 economy, and FE is 

committed to advancing technology 

solutions that utilize the Nation’s vast 

fossil energy resources. 

FE’s research and development (R&D) 

programs can be divided into four 

major focus areas: 

1. Carbon-Neutral Hydrogen Production 

using Gasification and Reforming

Technologies;

2. Large-Scale Hydrogen Transport

Infrastructure;

3. Large-Scale Onsite and Geological

Hydrogen Storage; and

4. Hydrogen Use for Electricity 

Generation, Fuels, and Manufacturing.

Hydrogen Infrastructure

The vision of a decarbonized world 

where all energy sources produce H2

as a common fuel, energy storage 

medium, and chemical processing 

component runs directly through 

infrastructure development. A broadbased H2 market requires production 

Figure 1. Integration of Fossil Energy into the Hydrogen Economy 

and distribution of large quantities of 

low-cost H2 in a complex infrastructure

that can provide the necessary 

quantities to end users. 

Hydrogen Production 

and Costs

Currently, the United States produces 

more than 10 million metric tons 

(MMT) of hydrogen annually, with 

95 percent produced from natural gas 

via steam methane reforming (SMR), 

4 percent by coal gasification, and 

1 percent by the electrolysis of water. 

Global H2 production is approximately 

70 MMT, with 76 percent from SMR, 

22 percent from coal gasification, and 

2 percent from electrolysis. 

Through the use of carbon capture, 

storage, and utilization (CCUS)

technologies demonstrated by FE, 

fossil fuels are the lowest cost source 

of carbon-neutral hydrogen and are 

negative (below-zero carbon) when 

co-firing biomass. H2 production from 

fossil resources is readily scalable 

using existing technologies. At present, 

H2 generation from gasification and 

reforming are the only ways to generate 

the necessary quantities at reasonable

costs. Figure 2 provides an overview of 

hydrogen uses and national benefits and 

shows the relationship of FE’s R&D

program elements to support a hydrogen 

economy in the United States.

Hydrogen Export 

Opportunities

FE previously worked in H2 handling 

and can leverage its efforts on liquefied 

natural gas. This experience will help 

DOE identify the safety and terminal 

requirements that are necessary to 

export U.S. H2 to countries that are 

shifting to a H2economy. In those 

markets, H2can be used 

for electricity, manufacturing, 

transportation, and residential purposes. 

Additions to original EERE

illustration to represent FE 

role in Hydrogen Economy

OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY

Hydrogen Strategy

Enabling A Low-Carbon Economy OFFICE OF OIL & NATURAL GAS 

Fossil 

Energy
Emerging Markets for 

Hydrogen

As we get closer to a decarbonized 

world, H2 presents long-term potential 

in many sectors beyond existing 

industrial applications. If the cost of 

H2 production and utilization can be 

made significantly lower compared 

to the cost of other fossil fuels, it 

could be used to run transportation, 

buildings, and power sectors. Some 

of the emerging uses of H2 include 

electric grid management, energy 

storage and fuel cell vehicles, as well 

as blending H2 into existing natural gas 

pipelines and decarbonizing industrial 

processes, such as steel production, 

cement production, and other chemical 

engineering applications. 

All these uses would eventually 

create major increases in H2 demand, 

and they would potentially require 

foreign markets to be opened for H2

exported from the United States.

DOE Research and 

Development

At DOE, the offices of Fossil

Energy, Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, and Nuclear 

Energy, are collaborating on 

research areas and technologies for 

H2 production, transport, delivery, 

and storage, along with power 

production via fuel cells, 

electrolysis, and turbines.

For additional information, please 

contact the following FE personnel:

Regis Conrad

U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Fossil Energy 

Office of Clean Coal & 

Carbon Management

Division Director, 

Advanced Energy Systems

Regis.Conrad@hq.doe.gov

Timothy Reinhardt

U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Fossil Energy

Office of Oil and Natural Gas

Director, Division of Supply & Delivery

Timothy.Reinhardt@hq.doe.gov

Hydrogen turbines and 

fuel cells enable carbonneutral to negative emission 

power applications

Allow coal with CCUS 

to run as base load with 

hydrogen production 

for storage and use

Utilize existing and future gas 

turbine assets in centralized 

and distributed power 

generation systems

Hydrogen production from diverse domestic 

resources including natural gas and coal

HH Establish hydrogen’s 

presence as a critical 

feedstock for chemicals 

and liquid fuels

Contribute “responsive 

load” on grid using simple 

cycle hydrogen turbines to 

enable grid stability and 

gigawatt-hour energy storage

Support hydrogen-enabled 

innovations in domestic 

industries

Energy Security Economic Prosperity Resiliency

Widespread 

availability of 

carbon-neutral or 

negative greenhouse gas 

emissions

hydrogen

Figure 2. Relationship of FE Program Elements to Comprehensive Hydrogen Strategy

OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY

For more information, visit:

fossil.energy.gov Fossil

Energy

July 2020