Advances in Hydrogen Production from Natural Gas Reforming

Steam natural gas reforming is the preferred technique presently used to produce hydrogen. Proposed in 1932, the technique is very well established but still subjected to perfections. Herein, first, the improvements being sought in catalysts and processes are reviewed, and then the advantage of replacing the energy supply from burning fuels with concentrated solar energy is discussed. It is especially this advance that may drastically reduce the economic and environmental cost of hydrogen production. Steam reforming can be easily integrated into concentrated solar with thermal storage for continuous hydrogen production.

Automated summary

Steam natural gas reforming is the preferred technique for hydrogen production, but there is still room for improvement. Using concentrated solar energy instead of burning fuels as the energy supply can significantly reduce the economic and environmental costs involved in hydrogen production.