A "Transforming Energy" Lecture by John A. Turner
November 10, 2006

Abstract

It is rapidly becoming apparent that energy is one of the most important issues facing our world today; in fact, in today's society energy is as important as food and water. Humankind finds itself facing the challenge of how to continue to power society, particularly in the face of the rapidly growing economies of emerging nations like India and China, and yet answer questions of sustainability, energy security, geopolitics and global environment. One of the major issues facing America and most other countries in the world is how to supply a transportation fuel, an energy carrier to replace gasoline. Hydrogen as an energy carrier, primarily derived from water, can address issues of sustainability, environmental emissions and energy security. The "Hydrogen Economy" then is the production of hydrogen, its distribution and utilization as an energy carrier. While the vision of a hydrogen economy has been around for more than 130 years, the most recent push to use hydrogen as an energy carrier came as part of a U.S. Presidential Initiative, announced in the 2003 State of the Union Address. It is important that we consider hydrogen in tandem with other technologies as an alternative to the once-abundant hydrocarbon resources on which our society depends. This talk will introduce sustainable energy systems, including fuel cell technology and discuss the vision, the barriers and possible pathways for the production and implementation of hydrogen into the energy infrastructure.

Biography

John A. Turner, Ph. D., is a principal scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. He received his B.S. degree from Idaho State University, his Ph.D. from Colorado State University, and completed a postdoctoral appointment at the California Institute of Technology before joining the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in 1979. His research is primarily concerned with enabling technologies for the implementation of hydrogen systems into the energy infrastructure. This includes direct conversion (photoelectrolysis) systems for hydrogen production from sunlight and water, advanced materials for high temperature fuel cell membranes, and corrosion protection for fuel cell metal bipolar plates. Other work involves the study of electrode materials for high energy density lithium batteries and fundamental processes of charge transfer at semiconductor electrodes. His monolithic photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical device has the highest efficiency for any direct conversion water splitting device (>12 percent). He has twice received the Midwestern Research Institute President's Award for Exceptional Performance in Research. In addition, he has received the Hydrogen Technical Advisory Panel award for Research Excellence, an Idaho State University Outstanding Achievement Award (2006), and two Outstanding Mentor Awards from the US Department of Energy for his work with undergraduate students. He is the author or co-author of over 75 peer-reviewed publications in the areas of photoelectrochemistry, fuel cells, batteries, general electrochemistry and analytical chemistry.