Renewable energy

This Department of Energy (DOE) report is in response to section 812(e) of the nergy Policy Act of 2005. It is a detailed summary of the technology roadmaps1 for solar and wind-based hydrogen production. Included are descriptions of DOE's progress in establishing programs required by section 812, and recommendations for promoting solar- and wind-based hydrogen production technologies. This report also includes a comprehensive summary of DOE solar and wind hydrogen projects in the Appendix. Hydrogen used as an energy carrier potentially offers the nation tremendous long-term energy, environmental, and economic security. Deriving hydrogen from domestic, carbon-neutral resources addresses foreign oil dependence, and criteria and greenhouse gas emissions. DOE’s long-term strategy is to produce hydrogen from various resources: renewables (including solar, wind, biomass, hydropower, and geothermal), nuclear energy, and domestic coal (with sequestration of greenhouse gases). High efficiency and low emissions are achieved through use of fuel cells in both transportation and distributed electric power generation supply fuel for transportation range between distributed hydrogen production at fueling stations, and centralized hydrogen production to supply fuel to many stations.