(98a) Innovation and Emerging Technology Perspectives in Hydrogen and Fuel Cells at the U.S. Department of Energy

Today the technology around generating efficient and sustainable energy is rapidly evolving and hydrogen and fuel cells are emerging, versatile examples within a portfolio of options. Dr. Sunita Satyapal will provide an overview of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) activities within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) focusing on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. This is an exciting time in the fuel cell industry with several thousand commercial fuel cell vehicles now sold or leased, hundreds of fueling stations worldwide, and more than a quarter of a million stationary fuel cells providing clean, reliable power. DOE’s Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) addresses key technical barriers faced by hydrogen and fuel cells through a comprehensive portfolio of early-stage research and development (R&D) with the potential to meet technical and cost targets that enable competitiveness with incumbent technologies in the market.

The presentation will cover DOE’s H2@Scale initiative which will enable innovations to generate cost-competitive hydrogen as an energy carrier, coupling renewables, as well as nuclear, fossil fuels, and the grid, to enhance the economics of both baseload power plants and intermittent solar and wind, enhancing resiliency and avoiding curtailment. Hydrogen can be stored, distributed and used as a fuel or feedstock in transportation, stationary or multiple industrial sectors, while creating an additional revenue streams. The presentation will also provide examples of safety, codes and standards R&D activities that FCTO is funding to enable the H2@Scale initiative. The talk will also provide a preview of the new Center for Hydrogen Safety through a collaboration between American Institute of Chemical Engineers and DOE’s Pacific Northwest National laboratory, as well as multiple stakeholders worldwide.