The Department of Energy (DOE) is ramping up efforts for a feasibility study aimed to position hydrogen as the country’s “fuel of the future,” with Sec. Alfonso Cusi forming a team for this endeavor.
The secretary noted that the DOE had tapped a Japanese entity to study hydrogen as a likely added resource to the country’s energy mix – whether as alternative fuel for the transport sector, for battery storage, or for power generation.
Cusi noted, though, that this is still a very preliminary prospect, as it needs solid backing from studies – in terms of resource potential and cost impact on consumers. The department began its hydrogen pitch last year.
Based on initial assessments of the International Energy Agency (IEA), hydrogen could significantly contribute to a more sustainable and secure source of energy in the future, especially if it becomes commercially viable.
The IEA noted that based on a study by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, more and more governments and businesses worldwide are strongly supporting hydrogen as an energy option.
In the Philippines, Shell initially proposed the commercial development and use of hydrogen as a feasible source of the country’s energy needs.
Experts have noted that hydrogen could help resolve various energy challenges, such as the need to store variable output from renewable energy technologies like solar and wind power. This way, they could have stored capacity that can be dispatched in a power grid when necessary even with intermittent generation.