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Assessing Cleaner Energy Technologies Fuel Cells

What:

Since the discovery of fire, we have become more and more dependent on outside energy to help us survive, work, and enjoy life. As the planet’s population increases, and our activities grow in scale and speed, not only do we need more energy, but also methods by which to identify cleaner energy and more ways to get and use it.

Why:

In the past, we have found that each new technological improvement has also come with its own known and unforeseen consequences. We are still finding out how much more the earth's resources and life forms are interconnected and interdependent than originally thought

“An ounce of prevention...” the old saying goes. In our experience we have direct data on how much more it costs to clean up than to avoid pollution. There are some cases that, for practical purposes, are not reversible. Examples of that are extinction of species, human suffering and death from health problems caused by pollutants such as NOx, SOx, particulates, and the potential risk of climactic changes that could cause planet wide havoc.

How:

Fuel cells promise to be one technology that could fill the needs while avoiding the problems. However, determining how much better they are, what choices maximize the environmental benefits while steering clear of the unforeseen consequences, are questions that can use significantly more study.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA):

The amount of work and material that goes into providing the world’s energy is huge and growing. Environmental considerations for the United States will come not only from the manufacture and use of energy systems locally, but from the world over. Therefore it becomes very important to consider all sources that could result in significant unwanted impact. By using an LCA approach, the EPA/ORD, in cooperation with many other governmental organizations and private companies are assessing the benefits and total costs of energy options. The new technologies that become adopted have to be as clean as possible.

“Cradle-to-Grave” Analysis of Fuel Cell Applications Workshop:

The first of these steps at the ORD National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) in Cincinnati, has been to organize the Environmental “Cradle-to-Grave” Analysis of Fuel Cell Applications workshop. The workshop took place at the Marriott Kingsgate Conference Center, Cincinnati, OH; June 26 & 27 2001.

Workshop Results:

You can review and download workshop results by selecting the following links: Agenda, Participants List, Abstracts, Presentations and Slides (Where Available)

Related Links:

Contacts:

George Huffman
huffman.george@epa.gov

Chun (CC) Lee
lee.chun@epa.gov

Ivars Licis
licis.ivars@epa.gov

Office of Research & Development | National Risk Management Research Laboratory

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