Stopping Climate Change: the Case for Hydrogen and Coal

Dr. C.E (Sandy) Thomas was co-founder and President of H2Gen Innovations, Inc., of Alexandria, Virginia. He was a Vice President at Directed Technologies, Inc., where he led a project with Ford and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to evaluate hydrogen infrastructure options and hydrogen safety. Before DTI, Dr. Thomas was an assistant to Senator Tom Harkin (1987 to 1993) and assisted him in expanding hydrogen and fuel cell research budgets at the DOE. Other research fields included coherent optical data processing, laser fusion and amorphous silicon photovoltaics.  Dr. Thomas earned his degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan. He received the 2010 Jules Verne Award from the International Association of Hydrogen Energy; the inscription on the award reads: “For his leadership in systems studies, analyses, and entrepreneurship in development and commercialization of hydrogen technologies.”Dr. Thomas’ first book, “Sustainable Transportation Options for the 21st century and Beyond: a Comprehensive comparison of alternatives to the internal combustion engine,” by Springer (ISBN 978-3-319-16832-6) compares the cost and environmental attributes of various alternative vehicles including battery electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles, natural gas vehicles, etc., and concludes that only hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles can achieve the desired 80% reduction in U.S. GHGs in the transportation sector. 

Introduction.- Greenhouse Gases by Sector.- Net Greenhouse gas reduction required by Sector.- Electricity Generator Costs and greenhouse gas emissions.- Petroleum and Coal Proven Reserves: the case for coal and the demise of OPEC.- Greenhouse Gas Reduction Costs compared: electricity vs. fuel cell electric vehicles.- Tri-Generation Stations at Big Box Stores and warehouses.- Economics of Electricity and Hydrogen Co-generation at IGCC plants.- Solar-Hydrogen Generation Systems.- Water Consumption.- Coal mine safety.- Conclusions.