(3) Scope of the Program Advanced electrolysis systems aimed at reducing capital cost and improving efficiency (currently in the range of about 75%) are being developed at federal and industrial laboratories. Currently the electrolysis of water is the only large scale production process for hydrogen in use that does not involve oil, natural gas, or coal as the raw material. Electrolysis theoretically requires 17.5 kWh per pound of hydrogen. Another method of producing hydrogen from water which is being examined at a number of laboratories involves direct thermochemical decomposition using cyclic chemical processes. Work on the feasibility of this approach and on the identification of the promising cycles is being supported. The overall hydrogen R&D program consists of four areas: • Advanced hydrogen-production techniques. • General technology studies of hydrogen-storage media. • Examination of the feasibility of hydrogen-reconversion technology. • Analysis and conceptual design of hydrogen systems. These programs include experimental studies leading ultimately to the development of prototype devices for selected application in gas and electric utility systems. It is evident that this program has a wider scope than just energy storage; however, the need for integration of each component into a unified system requires that the entire research effort be conducted as a single program. c. Flywheels (1) Applications and Goals The storage of energy in flywheels has both stationary and mobile applications, e.g., in electric utilities and in transportation. The goal in this program is to demonstrate flywheel energy storage as an economically viable option for selected applications in transportation and industry.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU5NjU0Mg==