Future Means of Hydrogen Production

This paper has summarised the main issues for future means of hydrogen production. The current production of hydrogen by reforming of natural gas is concerned with two main issues: increase of oil and gas prices and CO2 emission. In both cases, the hydrogen produced from natural gas reforming will be more and more expensive, above 12 dollars/GJ nowadays. Alternative solutions like existing alkaline electrolysis coupled with CO2-free and cheap electricity (nuclear or large hydro for example) could become very soon an interesting solution from an economical point of view. Beside that and as a reference point, alternative processes have to be developed. All the ideas in progress must be developed, from high temperature processes using cheap heat and electricity from future nuclear plant or high temperature solar plant, but also, for decentralized production innovative low temperature processes like photoelectrochemical or photo-biological. It is necessary to support R and D effort from now, basic research, technological research, prototype, small scale demonstration are needed for the next two decades. International collaboration are needed like GEN IV for future nuclear generation, IPHE, IEA and in Europe, especially a joint effort through European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Platform. Technological platform on sustainable hydrogen production like Sushy-Pro initiative between some public laboratories will be necessary to implement to share the costs of development and to enhance international collaboration. (authors)