The SGP-CFE geothermal hydrogen study

Excess baseload geothermal electric power could be used to manufacture hydrogen as an alternate automotive fuel, providing several synergistic economic and environmental health benefits. A study is underway as part of the DOE-CFE Geothermal Agreement to estimate the potential for producing hydrogen at geothermal fields in Mexico with low-cost excess capacity and the concomitant potential for air pollution abatement in the Mexico City metropolitan area. Case studies have been made for excess capacity at three scales: (1) small (10 MWe) at a new developing field as an experimental facility; (2) moderate (100 MWe) at Cerro Prieto as a demonstration project; and (3) large (1000 MWe) using the entire output of Mexico`s geothermal resources for significant air quality improvement.