Commercialization of In-Situ Hydrogen Production

Abstract

Mitigation of global warming requires transition to fuel sources which emit no greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when used and produce no significant GHG emissions in their production. Proton’s in-situ hydrogen production technology utilizes an approach which traps all other produced gases underground with the potential to produce such clean hydrogen. This study reviews the proposed technology components, potential synergies for renewable power storage (as hydrogen), large scale economics and life cycle greenhouse gas intensity benefits. The results show feasibility of large scale application, a positive synergy with large scale renewable energy storage (in salt caverns), a potential to produce hydrogen at scale with a cost of approximately $0.17/kg, and potential for reducing the current greenhouse gas intensity of natural gas powered gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) electricity generation from 499.1 g CO2eq/kWh to approximately 5 g CO2eq/kWh (98% reduction) by conversion of GTCC plants to run on clean hydrogen.