Chu downplays past criticism of technology
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and U.S. Representative from South Carolina James Clyburn toured Horizon’s hydrogen fuel cell laboratory Tuesday afternoon.
In a quick photo opportunity, the politicians received a brief explanation of the laboratory’s work before rushing off to another room. But not before Chu answered a couple questions from the press about his past criticism of fuel cells.
“There are some people who felt I was trying to get rid of the fuel cells altogether, and that is absolutely not true,” Chu said. “We still want to fund the research and development of these fuel cells. As financial pressures increase, we’re trying to look for what is the best way to apportion the precious research dollars we do have in these various technologies.”
In 2009, Chu said fuel cells may not be practical over the next two decades, and the government cut funds for hydrogen vehicle development. The Energy Department continued to fund stationary fuel cell uses, such as those developed at USC.
The viability of hydrogen technology is important to USC’s Innovista project, of which Horizon is a part. The university has invested millions in the research, which some consider a dead end.
Chu said his criticism of fuel cells was exaggerated, and added that a recent change in the U.S. energy landscape could equal a rebirth of the green technology.
“Within the last five years, the natural gas resources within the United States have increased dramatically,” Chu said. “If we see another decade of low gas prices, that opens up a whole number of possibilities, many of which actually will help fuel cells because natural gas is actually a major source of hydrogen.”
Hydrogen fuel cells, once made, create energy while expelling only water vapor as a by-product. The problem, however, lies in getting the hydrogen in the first place.
Fuel cell producers can remove hydrogen from methanol, which is can be derived from methane natural gas. That hydrogen removal process, however, can create Earth-warming carbon dioxide, explained Michael Mayeda, a fourth-year chemical engineering graduate student who works in Horizon.
“The jury is still out,” Mayeda said of the hydrogen debate. “It’s a boom, bust cycle.”
Clyburn said he had toured the facility before and was impressed, and that’s why he brought Chu to see it.
“I’ve been supporting this all along,” Clyburn said. “My bringing him here is part of my support for it.”
Max Molleo, a third-year graduate student focusing on organic polymer chemistry, works in Horizon on the team researching polymer membranes for use in fuel cells.
The technology could possibly create less expensive, more efficient fuel cells.
“We are looking to develop higher-performance fuel cells that have higher resistance to impurities and are more robust both physically and chemically,” Molleo said.
Fuel cells have numerous applications, according to Molleo. Since the conversion of hydrogen into water creates both electricity and heat, fuel cells could both heat and power homes.
Soldiers could use them in communications devices, because they are less clunky than batteries.
Currently, wineries in California use them to keep their stocks cool in case of power failure.