Hydrogen as a Chemical Constituent and as an Energy Source

Report Highlights

• The total U.S. hydrogen demand will increase from 10,977.0 billion cubic feet in 2002 at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 5.5%
• In 2007, petrochemicals/agro-chemicals production will represent 93.18% of total hydrogen demand.
• Industrial hydrogen demand will increase to 743.7 billion cubic feet in 2007.
• Renewable energy hydrogen demand will grow at an AAGR of 3.4%.

INTRODUCTION

Hydrogen is the most abundant and lightest element on earth. It is a very stable molecule and not particularly reactive under normal conditions. However, at elevated temperatures and with the aid of catalysts, it undergoes numerous chemical reactions, some explosive, forming compounds with virtually every other element. This makes hydrogen an important industrial commodity chemical constituent.

The use of hydrogen for petrochemicals, agrochemicals and renewable energy production will make rapid advances in the next five years as even more stringent environmental legislation is enforced. High-purity transportation fuels will become mandatory, and harmful chemical emissions will be cut drastically. Hydrogen will offer petroleum refiners, specialty chemical manufacturers and automakers the flexibility they need to meet international agreements for cleaner products.

BCC assesses and quantifies the current hydrogen market. It investigates and evaluates the future for hydrogen in petrochemical and renewable energy production in the period 2002 through 2007. It also shows how offshore activity impacts U.S. and worldwide hydrogen demand. Lastly, it determines the impact of hydrogen developments on the petroleum industry.

This document will be invaluable to decision makers in chemical and energy industries/end-users (oil, gas, petrochemical, fertilizer and chemical companies), as well as automotive companies and fuel cell developers.

SCOPE OF STUDY

This comprehensive analysis:

• Reviews environmental and energy regulations
• Analyzes the structure of the hydrogen industry, its driving forces, competitive aspects, market segmentation, distribution channels, pricing, etc.
• Evaluates hydrogen markets by product type and technology with forecasts through 2007
• Assesses hydrogen demand with forecaststo 2007
• Reviews hydrogen technology
• Considers the international hydrogen , including trade data by region and forecasts for the 2002 to 2007 period
• Includes profiles of major players

METHODOLOGY

In this report, both historic and current data have been used in the hydrogen demand analysis. Therefore, the results of the calculations presented here are based on three components: historic analysis of hydrogen demand in the period 1999 to 2002, estimates for 2002, and forecasted demand for the 2002 to 2007 time frame.

INFORMATION SOURCES

Information sources include trade data (national and international), company publicity literature, conference reports, world trade technical journals and interviews with company representatives.

AUTHOR'S CREDENTIALS

Edward Gobina currently holds the post of Robert Gordon Reader in Chemical & Process Engineering. He earned his Ph.D from The University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, U.K. Gobina is a Member of the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS), The North American Membrane Society (NAMS) and The European Membrane Society (EMS). He is the Founder of the Centre for Process Integration and Membrane Technology (CPIMT) at the Robert Gordon University. The primary focus of Gobina's research in the last 17 years has been in the area of chemical reaction engineering, catalysis, integrated membrane reactor-separators (including catalytic reactions), environmentally benign technologies for converting natural gas to liquids, and hydrogen technologies. He has published over 100 technical papers, 7 books, 3 international patents (PCT) and has extensive background in the field of catalytic and separation technologies.