Coal-based Methanol Cheapest Fuel - Univ. of FL

Study: Coal based methanol is cheapest fuel for fuel cells

 

Fuel cells are being developed/promoted as an alternative technology, with some advantages, for powering our automobiles, and other useful devices.  

 

If we do begin a transition to that technology, then coal, again, apparently provides us with the most attractive economic option.

 

And, herein a little more synergy: If we do opt to start using fuel cells a little further down the road, and want to use the most economical fuel for them, as documented herein, but have in the meantime established a robust coal-to-methanol-to-gasoline industry, as the Chinese seem intent on doing, then we'll be in a wonderful economic position.

 

Even more: Fuel cells might not work too well, at first, anyway, for long-haul trucks, and conversion of our transport fleet, if possible, would take a long time.

 

So, keep in mind that coal-based methanol can be converted into both gasoline and the diesel fuel replacement, DME, di-methyl ether.

 

If we start making methanol from coal, now, and establish the industry, it could provide us the feed for making liquid fuels needed by our current transportation fleet, and later provide us directly with the best fuel, according to the enclosed information, for vehicles powered by fuel cells.

 

The excerpt:

 

"Study: Coal based methanol is cheapest fuel for fuel cells

A recently completed study by University of Florida researchers for the Georgetown University fuel cell program assessed the the future overall costs of various fuel options for fuel cell vehicles.

The primary fuel options analyzed by the study, titled “An Investigation of the Feasibility of Coal-Based Methanol for Application in Transportation Fuel Cell Systems,” were hydrogen from natural gas, hydrogen from coal, and methanol from coal.

To estimate the cost of fuels for fuel cell vehicles for the year 2020, several elements were investigated. First, the total energy demand for fuel cell vehicles in the U.S. was projected, based on recent energy trends and expected future energy demand. The study assumed that fuel cell vehicles will be introduced into the U.S. fleet gradually, and account for half of new vehicle purchases in 2020. Second, the demand, supply, and cost of the two studied feedstocks (natural gas and coal) were analyzed. Lastly, the study examined costs of the various fuel production methods, transportation, storage, and taxes.

The key finding of the hydrogen fuel cost analysis are summarized in the following comparison of the projected costs per gasoline-equivalent gallon in the year 2020 for the different sources of hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles (costs include taxes and are given in 1996 dollars):

Hydrogen (H2) Feedstock	$/gallon in 2020 (gasoline equivalent)
H2 from Natural Gas Off-board reforming	$3.44 - $4.32
H2 from Coal Gasification	$3.18
H2 from Methanol from Coal On-board reforming	$1.77