S.C. hopes to lead hydrogen economy

NEW ELLENTON, S.C. — Years ago, engineers for the federal government here studied hydrogen for its bomb-boosting capabilities. Now, scientists are working toward developing an economy that runs on the element

"Our people did indeed help win the Cold War," said Fred Humes, director of the Economic Development Partnership in Aiken and Edgefield counties. "And with the capability we have ... we can help the country gain energy independence."

Using hydrogen as a fuel means cars will emit water rather than exhaust fumes, making it a clean, widely available alternative to fossil fuels. Hydrogen-run vehicles have been tested, but public availability is probably at least a decade away, said Todd Wright, director of the Savannah River National Laboratory.

Nearly every state has some sort of hydrogen initiative as they scramble to discover ways to cheaply and practically use the element as fuel. South Carolina lawmakers and business leaders believe the Savannah River Site's work since the early 1950s gives an edge to a state typically thought of as backward rather than futuristic.

"Because of SRS, we're ahead of the curve," said House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston. "Whoever cracks the nut first will probably be the center of the universe. ... This can be so powerful for South Carolina's economy."

Humes believes the research and resulting industry investments could tally $10 billion within the next 20 years and translate into tens of thousands of well-paying jobs if the state rises to the top.

"Many of the states have the smoke but no fire," he said. "South Carolina has the foundations and the fire."

The Savannah River National Laboratory, designated one of 12 national labs two years ago, boasts of having the nation's largest collection of hydrogen experts. The lab's initial mission was studying tritium, a hydrogen isotope used to boost nuclear bombs.

Its new research specialty is separating hydrogen from sources such as water and storing the element, normally a gas, onboard a vehicle in a safe, solid, lightweight form.

Making such expertise publicly available meant moving engineers offsite.

The lab is moving all its unclassified, nonradioactive hydrogen work into the Center for Hydrogen Research, which opened in February just outside the federal boundaries. The national facility is leasing half the center, built and owned by Aiken County; the rest is available for private industries.

So far, Toyota is leasing space, and General Motors, though not leasing, is working with the lab. Virtually every automaker is testing hydrogen-powered vehicles, which have received support from a five-year, $1.2 billion initiative announced by President Bush in 2003.

"Before, there was no mechanism for people to come in and work at SRS," said Humes, who was instrumental in creating the center. "We wanted to bring the technology outside of the fence and make it available to the world."

Half of the lab's 80 hydrogen scientists and engineers are moving to the center, whose new facilities are a marked contrast to the drab, '50s-era federal labs.

"It's exciting," said Theodore Motyka, a hydrogen technology program manager. "There are not many places you can do something as important as this."

The national laboratory and hydrogen center are two major components in the larger statewide initiative.

Others that make up what Wright calls the "dream team of hydrogen" include the University of South Carolina's national fuel cell center, the International Center for Automotive Research at Clemson University and the James E. Clyburn transportation center at South Carolina State University.

The South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance was formed in January to promote the groups' combined efforts, and it's already proved successful. In July, the National Hydrogen Association chose Columbia as the site for its 2009 convention, which should further propel South Carolina's status as a research and business leader.

Patrick Serfass, spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based association, called South Carolina "one of the newest strong players." He credited a "magic combination" of governments, private industry and universities working together.

"The activity is growing very, very fast," he said. "South Carolina is really becoming a shining star."

Humes, an alliance member, said he expects South Carolina to be among the top three states for hydrogen research by the time the national convention arrives — but even that's not good enough for him.

"I will not settle for anything other than the recognition of being the number one state," he said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060910/ap_on_sc/hydrogen_economy
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