Clean coal technology will one day power hydrogen cars. At least this is the plan according to the U. S. Government’s FutureGen initiative. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), “The project will employ coal gasification technology integrated with combined cycle electricity generation and the sequestration of carbon dioxide emissions.”
The U. S. currently has 250 years worth of coal reserves to serve our power needs and if clean coal technology can be perfected this means that electricity and hydrogen can both be produced from the coal with zero emissions in the process. The H2 can then be used to power hydrogen cars and some of the electricity can also be used for electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen, once again for hydrogen cars and vehicles.
Not only will carbon dioxide be sequestered (removed) during the process but it will be sold as a commodity as well, making clean coal technology efficient and profitable for its operators. India has also jumped on-board with an announcement that they are joining the U. S. in the development of the world’s first zero-emissions coal-fired power plant. In addition, other countries have been invited to the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum as well.
Clean coal will be one more step towards a cleaner environment and less dependence upon foreign oil without the profit margin having to suffer. This will be a win-win-win situation, which is rare in today’s world.
Clean coal, if you pardon the pun, is a pipe dream. If you want electricity used for hydrogen generation, go high temp fourth generation nuclear plants.