TECHNOLOGY STUDIES
HYDROGEN
FROM COAL TO REPLACE GASOLINE – A STRATEGY
It is observed that an additional
620 million megawatt hour (MWe) energy generation is annually possible by
operating 335 power plants situated in 42 states to 85 percent capacity. When converted to hydrogen for replacing
gasoline, this surplus energy is equivalent to 340 million barrels of oil on
the basis of 75 percent conversion efficiency for hydrogen generation. Oil replacement potential can be 38
percent more by increasing the capacity utilization (some plants are run at
98%) and improving the conversion efficiency to 90% with solid polymer
electrolytes. In 15 states the oil
replacement capacity can exceed 10 million barrels.