INEEL Lab in Idaho could lead in hydrogen power

With transportation currently using one-third of the nation’s energy, the burden and demand on fossil fuels has never been higher.

"It’s like investing all your income into one stock," said Steve Aumeier, deputy associate laboratory director for engineering research at Argonne National Laboratory.

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While solar and electric powered vehicles have received much publicity, hydrogen is seen by energy experts as the possible answer to the grand challenge that is supplying energy for the national transportation infrastructure.

The new Idaho National Laboratory is poised to be at the forefront of the exploration into hydrogen power, should such an exploration take place.

"There’s money in the budget this year for the design of a Generation IV facility," said Idaho Department of Energy Spokesman Tim Jackson. "It’s up to the nation’s leaders to decide whether we need (them)."

New Generation IV reactors would phase out existing reactors, which have a set life span, and are touted to be safer and less wasteful than reactors currently in operation.

Most currently functioning reactors are Generation II reactors that are approaching the end of their scheduled lifetime.

The proposed new reactors will focus on hydrogen power under the Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems Initiative, a consortium of 10 countries that hope to have the new systems fully functional by 2030.

While Idaho DOE Deputy Manager John Kotek said problems remain in the attempt to make hydrogen power commercially viable, the problems could likely be overcome if the proper technologies are developed.

Referred to in a DOE handout as "the most important project under consideration for the new INL," hydrogen can’t be mined or plucked from the air, but it can be obtained in various ways.

Wind, solar and nuclear power are just a few of the techniques currently being studied by DOE officials.

One of the biggest benefits of hydrogen, other than its long-term sustainability, is its virtual lack of harmful emissions.