US Hydrogen -- RBN Energy -- September 10, 2024

Locator: 48555HYDROGEN.

Hydrogen is tracked here, but seldom updated. Sorry.

RBN Energy: how existing US hydrogen infrastructure forms a base for future expansion. Archived.

The hype around low-carbon-intensity (LCI) hydrogen that captivated many energy transition fans over the past four years has lost some momentum of late as industry players recalibrate their investment plans in the face of spiraling costs. Still, the U.S. government is moving full speed ahead — the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021) and Inflation Reduction Act (2022) promise to flow billions of dollars into LCI hydrogen infrastructure via tax credits and other incentives.

Which raises this question: Will LCI hydrogen make economic sense or not? In November 2021, the Department of Energy (DOE) asked the National Petroleum Council (NPC) to take a deep dive into the topic. In today’s RBN blog, we begin a review of the issues at hand.

Hydrogen trains:

• China: link here.

• California: link here.

• operates between the cities of Redlands and San Bernardino
• population
• Redlands: 75,000
• University of Redlands, undergraduate enrollment: 2,300 students
  
• San Bernardino: 220,000
  
• nine-mile long corridor
• carries 416 passengers daily, M - F
• $20-million Zero Emission Multiple Unit train
• zero emission for end user; not zero emission in production

It would be interesting to know the increased emissions from ICEs stopped at rail crossings. Hunch: it's not zero. 

Big question: if so successful, why are such trains placed where so few people use them? 

Article:

• $20-million up-front
• writer does not provide current costs to operate
• no information on price of tickets

Arrow Service link here.

• capacity for 120 standing passengers
• storage hooks for up to 12 bicycles
• price: $2.75 one-way, San Bernardino to Redlands
• weekend day pass: $10.00

500 passengers / day x 2.75 = $1,375.

$20 million x 0.02 / year = $400,000 / year

$20 million / $1,500 = 13,333 days = 36 years?