Generation, of the energy carrier HYDROGEN In context ... - needs

NyOrka Page 35 12/18/2008All steam reforming cost scenarios (min, average and max) are more cost intensivecompared with the respective electrolyser max scenarios.Electrolyzer min Electrolyzer average Electrolyzer maxSteam Reformer min Steam Reformer average Steam Reformer maxResults for 0,1 € per kWh electricity14€ pro kg hydrogen12108642prosteam reformerdependent onoverall equipment,maintenance andpreparation costspro electrolyzerSR maxSR minElec maxElec min00,0350,0450,0550,0650,0750,0850,0950,1050,1150,1250,1350,1450,1550,165€ per kWh natural gasFigure 16 Future scenario: Reformer – Electrolyser; cost for electricity set at 0,10 € per kWhWhen the cost for electricity and natural gas is within this range, a detailed analysis of thenon operational cost is necessary to determine the preferable technology. The price ofnatural gas has slowly been rising since 1975 but peaked in October 2005. Also to benoted: competitiveness would if course also be skewed by diesel prices, such as were tobe found in 2008.4.5 Price trends in futureOther influential costs for the production are material costs of stainless steel (with Nickeland Chromium being the key alloying elements) and copper, and to a reduced extend alsoaluminium. Purification costs and quality monitoring of hydrogen made with eithermethod should not be neglected. These may amount to 12-13% of the production costsusing either steam reformation or electrolysis. Hydrogen infrastructure equipment willbecome more costly with higher energy prices.The energy conversion cannot be improved very much for the low temperatureelectrolysers. The conversion efficiency of today’s electrolysers is already high andtherefore basic research should address areas where a significant cost reduction inhydrogen costs can be achieved. The only way to reduce the energy consumption furtherwould be to increase the process temperature (e.g. to 800° C). This, so called hightemperature electrolyser, has great energy savings but substantial material challenges.Adding pressure only keeps the volume of the generated hydrogen down and would savespace and therefore land use.