87
Chapter 5
Scientific Knowledge and Challenges
Related to Hydrogen
Jean-Luc Charlou, Jean-Pierre Donval, Fabrice Brunet,
Manuel Munoz and Olivier Vidal
J.-L. Charlou () · J.-P. Donval
Métallogénie, Géosciences Marines, Centre Bretagne,
Ifremer, BP 70, 29280 Plouzané, France
e-mail: jean.luc.charlou@ifremer.fr
J.-P. Donval
e-mail: jean.pierre.donval@ifremer.fr
F. Brunet · M. Munoz · O. Vidal
Observatoire Terre-Univers-Environnement,
Université Joseph Fourier, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
e-mail: fabrice.brunet@obs.ujf-grenoble.fr
M. Munoz
e-mail: manuel.munoz@obs.ujf-grenoble.fr
O. Vidal
e-mail: olivier.vidal@obs.ujf-grenoble.fr
Hydrogen, the Energy of the Future?
Hydrogen is endowed with excellent physical and chemical properties, like its very
high calorific value (three times higher than that of gasoline). With increasing gasoline and gas prices and diminishing fossil fuel reserves, hydrogen is emerging as a
clean and renewable alternative energy source. The political and industrial worlds
are beginning to see hydrogen as one of the fuels of the future. Several hydrogen production solutions exist, all based on artificial processes, which themselves
require energy. Currently, 96 % of hydrogen is produced by thermochemical processes (48 % by natural gas reforming, 30 % by hydrocarbon reforming and 18 % by
carbon gasification) and the remaining 4 % by water electrolysis. These processes
require the use of fossil fuels (with CO 2 production); their cost therefore directly
depends on oil prices.
Hydrogen is also naturally produced by certain bacteria in abiotic conditions
during interactions between aqueous fluids and rocks. Campaigns conducted at
sea by Ifremer over the past 20 years have shown that large quantities of hydrogen and hydrocarbons are emitted by smokers near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Good
Y. Fouquet, D. Lacroix (eds.), Deep Marine Mineral Resources,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8563-1_5, © Éditions Quæ 2014
Chapter 5
Scientific Knowledge and Challenges
Related to Hydrogen
Jean-Luc Charlou, Jean-Pierre Donval, Fabrice Brunet,
Manuel Munoz and Olivier Vidal
J.-L. Charlou () · J.-P. Donval
Métallogénie, Géosciences Marines, Centre Bretagne,
Ifremer, BP 70, 29280 Plouzané, France
e-mail: jean.luc.charlou@ifremer.fr
J.-P. Donval
e-mail: jean.pierre.donval@ifremer.fr
F. Brunet · M. Munoz · O. Vidal
Observatoire Terre-Univers-Environnement,
Université Joseph Fourier, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
e-mail: fabrice.brunet@obs.ujf-grenoble.fr
M. Munoz
e-mail: manuel.munoz@obs.ujf-grenoble.fr
O. Vidal
e-mail: olivier.vidal@obs.ujf-grenoble.fr
Hydrogen, the Energy of the Future?
Hydrogen is endowed with excellent physical and chemical properties, like its very
high calorific value (three times higher than that of gasoline). With increasing gasoline and gas prices and diminishing fossil fuel reserves, hydrogen is emerging as a
clean and renewable alternative energy source. The political and industrial worlds
are beginning to see hydrogen as one of the fuels of the future. Several hydrogen production solutions exist, all based on artificial processes, which themselves
require energy. Currently, 96 % of hydrogen is produced by thermochemical processes (48 % by natural gas reforming, 30 % by hydrocarbon reforming and 18 % by
carbon gasification) and the remaining 4 % by water electrolysis. These processes
require the use of fossil fuels (with CO 2 production); their cost therefore directly
depends on oil prices.
Hydrogen is also naturally produced by certain bacteria in abiotic conditions
during interactions between aqueous fluids and rocks. Campaigns conducted at
sea by Ifremer over the past 20 years have shown that large quantities of hydrogen and hydrocarbons are emitted by smokers near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Good
Y. Fouquet, D. Lacroix (eds.), Deep Marine Mineral Resources,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8563-1_5, © Éditions Quæ 2014