Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hydrogen Production

Handbook of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

  • 70 Accesses

Abstract

Nowadays, hydrogen (H2) is mainly used as a raw material in chemical industries. In the future, it will also become a significant type of fuel due to the advantages of reduction in greenhouse gas emission, enhanced energy security, and promoted energy efficiency. To meet the future demand, sufficient H2 production in an environmentally and economically benign manner is a major challenge. This chapter provides an overview of H2 production pathways from fossil fuels, renewable resources (mainly biomass), and water. H2 production via calcium-looping and chemical-looping processes is also highlighted. The research activities, breakthrough, and challenges of various H2 production technologies are discussed.

H2 from fossil fuels accounts for 96% of the total production around the world. Steam methane reforming, oil reforming, and coal gasification are the most common methods, and they are all commercially available. However, H2 generated from fossil fuels is nonrenewable, and in situ CO2 capture measures are essential.

H2 produced from biomass is renewable and CO2 neutral. Biomass thermochemical processes such as pyrolysis and gasification are widely investigated and expected to be economically competitive with steam methane reforming. However, research on biomass biological processes such as photolysis, dark fermentation, photo-fermentation, etc., is still in laboratory scale, and practical applications of these technologies need further demonstrations.

H2 from water splitting is also attractive because water is widely available and very convenient to use. However, water splitting technologies including electrolysis, thermolysis, and photoelectrolysis are more expensive than conventional large-scale H2 production technologies using fossil fuels. Considering the development of renewable energies, water splitting technologies with decreased capital and operation costs as well as promoted efficiency are expected to play a significant role in future H2 economy.

Calcium looping and chemical looping have unique advantages of in situ CO2 capture that is of significance for H2 production from fossil fuels. Either semi-industrial or pilot scale test has been conducted for these technologies. Developing low-cost, recyclable, efficient looping materials and accelerating large-scale demonstration projects are the key drivers to their commercial applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acharya B, Dutta A, Basu P (2010) An investigation into steam gasification of biomass for hydrogen enriched gas production in presence of CaO. Int J Hydrog Energy 35(4):1582–1589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arstad B, Prostak J, Blom R (2012) Continuous hydrogen production by sorption enhanced steam methane reforming (SE-SMR) in a circulating fluidized bed reactor: sorbent to catalyst ratio dependencies (Article). Chem Eng J 189:413–421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey R (2001) Projects in development Kentucky Pioneer energy Lima energy. Gasification Technologies Council

    Google Scholar 

  • Balasubramanian B, Ortiz AL, Kaytakoglu S et al (1999) Hydrogen from methane in a single-step process. Chem Eng Sci 54(15–16):3543–3552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barelli L, Bidini G, Gallorini F et al (2008) Hydrogen production through sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming and membrane technology: a review. Energy 33(4):554–570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benemann JR (1998) Process analysis and economics of biophotolysis of water. IEA Hydrogen Program

    Google Scholar 

  • Calzavara Y, Joussot-Dubien C, Boissonnet G et al (2005) Evaluation of biomass gasification in supercritical water process for hydrogen production. Energy Convers Manag 46(4):615–631

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chi J, Yu H (2018) Water electrolysis based on renewable energy for hydrogen production. Chin J Catal 39(3):390–394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collot AG (2006) Matching gasification technologies to coal properties. Int J Coal Geol 65(3–4):191–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demirbas MF (2006) Hydrogen from various biomass species via pyrolysis and steam gasification processes. Energy Sources Part A 28(1–3):245–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Ding FC, Yi YF (2006) Hydrogen production and storage technologies. Chemical Industry Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewan BCR, Allen RWK (2005) A figure of merit assessment of the routes to hydrogen. Int J Hydrog Energy 30(8):809–819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Funk JE (2001) Thermochemical hydrogen production: past and present. Int J Hydrog Energy 26(3):185–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao L (2009) A study of the reaction chemistry in the production of hydrogen from coal using a novel process concept. Imperial College London, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia L, French R, Czernik S et al (2000) Catalytic steam reforming of bio-oils for the production of hydrogen: effects of catalyst composition. Appl Catal A Gen 201(2):225–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Ibanez P, Cabanillas A, Sanchez JM (2004) Gasification of leached orujillo (olive oil waste) in a pilot plant circulating fluidised bed reactor. Preliminary results. Biomass Bioenergy 27(2):183–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan J, Wang Q, Li X et al (2007) Thermodynamic analysis of a biomass anaerobic gasification process for hydrogen production with sufficient CaO. Renew Energy 32(15):2502–2515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo Y, Fang W, Lin R (2005) Zhejiang Daxue Xuebao (Gongxue Ban). J Zhejiang Univ Sci A 39:538–541

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo LJ, Lu YJ, Zhang XM et al (2007) Hydrogen production by biomass gasification in supercritical water: a systematic experimental and analytical study. Catal Today 129(3–4):275–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo Y, Wang SZ, Xu DH et al (2010) Review of catalytic supercritical water gasification for hydrogen production from biomass. Renew Sust Energ Rev 14(1):334–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta P, Velazquez-Vargas LG, Fan LS (2007) Syngas redox (SGR) process to produce hydrogen from coal derived syngas. Energy Fuel 21(5):2900–2908

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hallenbeck PC, Benemann JR (2002) Biological hydrogen production; fundamentals and limiting processes. Int J Hydrog Energy 27(11–12):1185–1193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han J, Kim H (2008) The reduction and control technology of tar during biomass gasification/pyrolysis: an overview. Renew Sust Energ Rev 12(2):397–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han L, Wang Q, Ma Q et al (2010) Influence of CaO additives on wheat-straw pyrolysis as determined by TG-FTIR analysis. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 88(2):199–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han L, Wang Q, Luo Z et al (2013) H-2 rich gas production via pressurized fluidized bed gasification of sawdust with in situ CO2 capture. Appl Energy 109:36–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han L, Liu Q, Lin K et al (2020a) Enhanced hydrogen production via catalytic toluene reforming with in situ carbon dioxide capture: effects of a hybrid iron-calcium composite prepared by impregnation. Energ Convers Manag 214:112834

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han L, Liu Q, Zhang Y et al (2020b) A novel hybrid iron-calcium catalyst/absorbent for enhanced hydrogen production via catalytic tar reforming with in-situ CO2 capture. Int J Hydrog Energy 45(18):10709–10723

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He L, Berntsen H, Chen D (2010) Approaching sustainable H2 production: sorption enhanced steam reforming of ethanol. J Phys Chem A 114(11):3834–3844

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holladay JD, Wang Y, Jones E (2004) Review of developments in portable hydrogen production using microreactor technology. Chem Rev 104(10):4767–4789

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holladay JD, Hu J, King DL et al (2009) An overview of hydrogen production technologies. Catal Today 139(4):244–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong G, Spritzer M (2002) Supercritical water partial oxidation. In: Proceedings of the 2002 US DOE Hydrogen Program Review. NREL/CP-610-32405

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsieh TL, Xu D, Zhang Y et al (2018) 250 kWth high pressure pilot demonstration of the syngas chemical looping system for high purity H2 production with CO2 capture. Appl Energy:2301660–2301672

    Google Scholar 

  • Ji GZ, Yao JG, Clough PT et al (2018) Enhanced hydrogen production from thermochemical processes. Energy Environ Sci 11(10):2647–2672

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnsen K, Ryu HJ, Grace JR et al (2006) Sorption-enhanced steam reforming of methane in a fluidized bed reactor with dolomite as CO2-acceptor. Chem Eng Sci 61(4):1195–1202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jung GY, Kim JR, Park JY et al (2002) Hydrogen production by a new chemoheterotrophic bacterium Citrobacter sp Y19. Int J Hydrog Energy 27(6):601–610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalinci Y, Hepbasli A, Dincer I (2009) Biomass-based hydrogen production: a review and analysis. Int J Hydrog Energy 34(21):8799–8817

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerby RL, Ludden PW, Roberts GP (1995) Carbon monoxide-dependent growth of rhodospirillum-rubrum. J Bacteriol 177(8):2241–2244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koppatz S, Pfeifer C, Rauch R et al (2009) H2 rich product gas by steam gasification of biomass with in situ CO2 absorption in a dual fluidized bed system of 8 MW fuel input. Fuel Process Technol 90(7–8):914–921

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koppejan J, Van Loo S (2012) The handbook of biomass combustion and co-firing. Routledge, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Krummenacher JJ, West KN, Schmidt LD (2003) Catalytic partial oxidation of higher hydrocarbons at millisecond contact times: decane, hexadecane, and diesel fuel. J Catal 215(2):332–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Licht S (2005) Solar water splitting to generate hydrogen fuel – a photothermal electrochemical analysis. Int J Hydrog Energy 30(5):459–470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin SY, Suzuki Y, Hatano H et al (2001) Hydrogen production from hydrocarbon by integration of water-carbon reaction and carbon dioxide removal (HyPr-RING method). Energy Fuel 15(2):339–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo M, Yi Y, Wang SZ et al (2018) Review of hydrogen production using chemical-looping technology. Renew Sust Energ Rev 81:3186–3214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Markov S, Thomas A, Bazin M et al (1997) Photoproduction of hydrogen by cyanobacteria under partial vacuum in batch culture or in a photobioreactor. Int J Hydrog Energy 22(5):521–524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milne TA, Evans RJ, Abatzaglou N (1998) Biomass gasifier “Tars”: their nature, formation, and conversion. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Minowa T, Zhen F, Ogi T (1998) Cellulose decomposition in hot-compressed water with alkali or nickel catalyst. J Supercrit Fluids 13(1–3):253–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mok WSL, Antal MJ (1992) Uncatalyzed solvolysis of whole biomass hemicellulose by hot compressed liquid water. Ind Eng Chem Res 31(4):1157–1161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norbeck JM, Heffel JW, Durbin TD et al (1996) Hydrogen fuel for surface transportation. Society of Automotive Engineers Inc., Warrendale

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ortiz AL, Harrison DP (2001) Hydrogen production using sorption-enhanced reaction. Ind Eng Chem Res 40(23):5102–5109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padro CEG, Putsche V (1999) Survey of the economics of hydrogen technologies. National Renewable Energy Lab, Golden

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pfeifer C, Puchner B, Hofbauer H (2009) Comparison of dual fluidized bed steam gasification of biomass with and without selective transport of CO2. Chem Eng Sci 64(23):5073–5083

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Proll T, Bolhar-Nordenkampf J, Kolbitsch P et al (2010) Syngas and a separate nitrogen/argon stream via chemical looping reforming – a 140 kW pilot plant study. Fuel 89(6):1249–1256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Resende FLP, Savage PE (2010) Effect of metals on supercritical water gasification of cellulose and lignin. Ind Eng Chem Res 49(6):2694–2700

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rizeq R, Lyon R, Zamansky V et al (2001) Fuel-flexible AGC technology for production of H2, power, and sequestration-ready CO2. In Proceedings of the International Technical Conference on Coal Utilization & Fuel Systems

    Google Scholar 

  • Safari F, Dincer I (2020) A review and comparative evaluation of thermochemical water splitting cycles for hydrogen production. Energy Convers Manag 205:112182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shafirovich E, Varma A (2009) Underground coal gasification: a brief review of current status. Ind Eng Chem Res 48(17):7865–7875

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen YF, Yoshikawa K (2013) Recent progresses in catalytic tar elimination during biomass gasification or pyrolysis-a review. Renew Sust Energ Rev 21:371–392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simell PA, Hakala NAK, Haario HE et al (1997) Catalytic decomposition of gasification gas tar with benzene as the model compound. Ind Eng Chem Res 36(1):42–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutton D, Kelleher B, Ross JRH (2001) Review of literature on catalysts for biomass gasification. Fuel Process Technol 73(3):155–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TeGrotenhuis W, King D, Brooks K et al (2002) Optimizing microchannel reactors by trading-off equilibrium and reaction kinetics through temperature management. In: 6th international conference on microreaction technology. p 18

    Google Scholar 

  • Troshina O, Serebryakova L, Sheremetieva M et al (2002) Production of H-2 by the unicellular cyanobacterium Gloeocapsa alpicola CALU 743 during fermentation. Int J Hydrog Energy 27(11–12):1283–1289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner J, Sverdrup G, Mann MK et al (2008) Renewable hydrogen production. Int J Energy Res 32(5):379–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ueno Y, Otsuka S, Morimoto M (1996) Hydrogen production from industrial wastewater by anaerobic microflora in chemostat culture. J Ferment Bioeng 82(2):194–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ursua A, Gandia LM, Sanchis P (2011) Hydrogen production from water electrolysis: current status and future trends. Proc IEEE 100(2):410–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang QH, Shen X, Luo Z et al (2003) New near zero emissions coal utilization technology with combined gasification and combustion. Power Eng 23(5):2711–2715,2675 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang ZH, Zhou JH, Wang QH et al (2006) Thermodynamic equilibrium analysis of hydrogen production by coal based on coal/CaO/H2O gasification system. Int J Hydrog Energy 31(7):945–952

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang M, Wang Z, Gong X et al (2014a) The intensification technologies to water electrolysis for hydrogen production – a review. Renew Sust Energ Rev 29:573–588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang QH, Rong N, Fan HT et al (2014b) Enhanced hydrogen-rich gas production from steam gasification of coal in a pressurized fluidized bed with CaO as a CO2 sorbent. Int J Hydrog Energy 39(11):5781–5792

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilhelm DJ, Simbeck DR, Karp AD et al (2001) Syngas production for gas-to-liquids applications: technologies, issues and outlook. Fuel Process Technol 71(1–3):139–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfrum EJ, Vanzin G, Huang J et al (2003) Biological water gas shift development. DOE Hydrogen, Fuel Cell, and Infrastructure Technologies Program Review

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu CB, Donald J, Byambajav E et al (2010) Recent advances in catalysts for hot-gas removal of tar and NH3 from biomass gasification. Fuel 89(8):1784–1795

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang HP, Yan R, Chen HP et al (2006) Pyrolysis of palm oil wastes for enhanced production of hydrogen rich gases. Fuel Process Technol 87(10):935–942

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeboah Y, Bota K, Day D et al (2002) Hydrogen from biomass for urban transportation. In: Proceedings of the US DOE Hydrogen Program Review

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu DH, Aihara M, Antal MJ (1993) Hydrogen-production by steam reforming glucose in supercritical water. Energy Fuel 7(5):574–577

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

    Qinhui Wang

  2. Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China

    Long Han

Authors
  1. Qinhui Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Long Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qinhui Wang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria

    Maximilian Lackner

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, USA

    Baharak Sajjadi

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA

    Wei-Yin Chen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Wang, Q., Han, L. (2021). Hydrogen Production. In: Lackner, M., Sajjadi, B., Chen, WY. (eds) Handbook of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6431-0_29-3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6431-0_29-3

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6431-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6431-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Chemistry and Mat. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Hydrogen Production
    Published:
    04 May 2021

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6431-0_29-3

  2. Original

    Hydrogen Production
    Published:
    05 August 2015

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6431-0_29-2

Search

Navigation