Abstract:The National Academies' National Research Council appointed the Committee on Alternatives and Strategies for Future Hydrogen Production and Use in the fall of 2002 to address the complex subject of the "hydrogen economy." In particular, the committee carried out these tasks:

• Assessed the current state of technology for producing hydrogen from a variety of energy sources;
• Made estimates on a consistent basis of current and future projected costs, carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, and energy efficiencies for hydrogen technologies;
• Considered scenarios for the potential penetration of hydrogen into the economy and associated impacts on oil imports and CO₂ gas emissions;
• Addressed the problem of how hydrogen might be distributed, stored, and dispensed to end uses—together with associated infrastructure issues—with particular emphasis on light-duty vehicles in the transportation sector;
• Reviewed the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) plan for hydrogen; and
• Made recommendations to the DOE on RD&D, including directions, priorities, and strategies.

The vision of the hydrogen economy is based on two expectations: (1) that hydrogen can be produced from domestic energy sources in a manner that is affordable and environmentally benign, and (2) that applications using hydrogen—fuel cell vehicles, for example—can gain market share in competition with the alternatives. To the extent that these expectations can be met, the United States, and indeed the world, would benefit from reduced vulnerability to energy disruptions and improved environmental quality, especially through lower carbon emissions. However, before this vision can become a reality, many technical, social, and policy challenges must be overcome. This report focuses on the steps that should be taken to move toward the hydrogen vision and to achieve the sought-after benefits. The report focuses exclusively on hydrogen, although it notes that alternative or complementary strategies might also serve these same goals well.

The Executive Summary presents the basic conclusions of the report and the major recommendations of the committee. The report's chapters present additional findings and recommendations related to specific technologies and issues that the committee considered.