Research and development activities on hydrogen technology in switizerland

摘要

In ths Swiss National Energy Research Program Hydrogen is considered as an important actual andpotential energy carrier and chemical commodity. Therefore, swiss R & D activities endeavour to defined and realize pprojects for the sustainable production, storage and utilization of hydrogren. Main goals are the regional regenerative production, i.e. the conversion of solar radiation into hydrogen by different processes, the substitution of fossil fuels by drogen and the utilization of hydrogen as chemical commodity. Depending on the gneration and utilization pathways the simultaneously produced by-products are considered as important incentives for the promotion of hydrogen technology. Owing to the fact that the implementation of hydrogen technology is often hampered by engineering, handling and safety problems, considerable efforts are directed towards new materials and materials science as key discipline for the efficient development of hydrogen technology. Consequently, a paramount task of the program coordination consists in identifying niches, where hydrogen can be implemented in an econom,ically and strsonable way These niches include the utilization of hydrogen as chemical commodity, i.e. as reducing agent in technical processes, but also as fuel for high-temperature processes, where any trace of carbon or carbon oxides would affect or even deteriorate the properties of the products.