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U.S. Awards $75 Million to Hydrogen Fuel Research Projects

Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham (©AP/WWP)

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Spencer Abraham has announced the selection of more than $75 million in research projects to support President Bush's hydrogen fuel initiative, according to an October 19 DOE press release.

The research projects address major technical and economic hurdles in renewable and distributed hydrogen-production technologies that must be overcome to make hydrogen-powered cars a reality.

"The projects we are announcing today highlight the emphasis that the department has placed on renewable and distributed production of hydrogen. They will move the nation toward advanced technologies to make and deliver safe, affordable hydrogen for fuel cell powered vehicles," Abraham said.

The projects include several renewable hydrogen-production technologies powered by the sun and establish more robust programs in near-term distributed hydrogen-generation appliances that can be sited at existing gasoline stations. Such appliances include small-scale natural gas reformers, which remove the element hydrogen from natural gas, and electrolyzers, which use electricity to modify chemicals.

Work resulting from the awards is expected to enhance U.S. leadership in hydrogen technology.

Text of the DOE press release follows:

Department of Energy
Press release, October 19, 2004

DOE Awards $75 Million in Research Grants in Support of President Bush's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative

WASHINGTON, DC -- Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham today announced that the department has selected over $75 million in research projects to support the President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative. In last year's State of the Union address, President Bush communicated his vision that, "the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free." The research projects announced today address major technical and economic hurdles in renewable and distributed hydrogen production technologies that must be overcome to make the President's vision a reality.

"Hydrogen from diverse domestic resources has the long-term potential to deliver greater energy independence by reducing America's reliance on foreign sources of energy, Secretary Abraham said. "The projects we are announcing today highlight the emphasis that the department has placed on renewable and distributed production of hydrogen. They will move the nation toward advanced technologies to make and deliver safe, affordable hydrogen for fuel cell powered vehicles."

The proposals selected are a key factor in moving forward and also address major recommendations from the recent National Research Council (NRC) Report "The Hydrogen Economy: Opportunities, Costs, Barriers and R&D; Needs," including the NRC's call for shifting more hydrogen production work towards more exploratory research on long-term sustainable, carbon-free pathways. Projects announced today include several renewable hydrogen production technologies powered by sun.

The projects selected also establish more robust programs in near-term distributed hydrogen generation appliances such as small-scale natural gas reformers and electrolyzers that can be sited at existing gasoline stations. This addresses another NRC recommendation to use already existing natural gas pipelines and electricity transmission and distribution systems which already exist. These small scale technologies can also make use of renewable resources to produce hydrogen such as bio-derived liquids and wind-based electricity.

Work resulting from the awards is expected to increase the United States' leadership in hydrogen technology. When private cost share is included, these projects come to a nearly $100 million investment in this second round of major hydrogen research funding. The projects involve 36 lead organizations and include over 80 teaming organizations. Selected organizations include academia, industry, and support by DOE national laboratories. Projects were chosen through a merit-review, competitive solicitation process.