VCU brought scientific research
specialists from around the world
together this week to discuss the use
of hydrogen as an alternative form
of fuel at the International Hydrogen
Symposium on Material Issues in a
Hydrogen Economy.
The symposium is taking place at
the Omni Richmond Hotel Monday
through Thursday.
Puru Jena, a physics professor and
organizer of the event, gathered 150
researchers from 18 different countries
to discuss their current research and
future goals. The scientists said they
share the common goal of using
hydrogen as an alternative source of
fuel.
The symposium was established in
1982 and takes place every four years,
Jena said.
According to Mark D. Pastor from
the U.S. Department of Energy, the
symposium’s mission is to reduce oil
consumption.
“We need to reduce our dependence
on oil,” Pastor said. “U.S. oil rates are
going up, and greenhouse gases are
going up.”
There are still major challenges ahead
before hydrogen could be available as
an alternative fuel source, Pastor said.
One of the major challenges is lowering
the cost of hydrogen. The target cost of
hydrogen is $2 to $3 per gasoline gallon
equivalents, a scientific comparative
measurement of energy content.
“We’re banging on $3 at the moment,”
Pastor said.
Another challenge is lowering the
cost of fuel cells, which can be used
for hydrogen transportation.
“We need to bring down the cost
to $30 per kilowatt and 5,000 hour
durability,” Pastor said.
Although hydrogen fuel cells can
be a big help to the world’s energy
problems, this new means of fuel alone
will not solve all energy issues.
“There is no one solution to the
world’s energy needs,” Pastor said.
“We need many solutions.”
Christopher Emerson, a chemistry
major, agrees that finding alternative
fuel sources, other than hydrogen, is
in everyone’s best interest.
“I don’t know if hydrogen is the
best possible solution,” Emerson said.
“We should be looking into as many
options as we can.”
Emerson said using hydrogen as
a fuel source would be better for the
environment.
“For one thing, the air would be a
bit cleaner,” Emerson said.
Elena Grillo, a graduate student
studying biology, agreed that using
hydrogen as a source of fuel could
help the environment.
“If using hydrogen means reduced
emissions, then it could contribute to
a reduction of global warming gases,”
Grillo said.
Although using hydrogen could
reduce greenhouse gases, Gregory
M. Plunkett, a biology professor at
VCU, said this might not be incentive
enough for the public to switch from
traditional combustion-engine vehicles
to hydrogen transportation. Plunkett
said the cost of using hydrogen will
be a determining factor.
“The price of our current fuel has to
go high enough in order for people to
use alternative fuel,” Plunkett said.