Challenges - Research and Innovative Technology Administration ...

FTA
FTA is working with DOE on about $14 million in demonstration projects to better understand the performance
of fuel cell and hydrogen commercial vehicles in real operating conditions.
DOE Re s e a r c h a n d Ac h i e v e m e n t s
The U.S. DOE Hydrogen Program works in partnership with industry, academia, national laboratories,
Federal and international agencies to:
►► Overcome technical barriers through research and development of fuel cell technologies for transportation,
distributed stationary power, and portable power applications, as well as hydrogen production,
delivery, and storage technologies;
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Address safety concerns and develop model codes and standards;
Validate and demonstrate fuel cell and hydrogen technologies in real-world conditions;
Educate key stakeholders whose acceptance of these technologies will determine their success in the
marketplace.
DOE’s Hydrogen Program is a cooperative effort involving the Offices of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy, Fossil Energy, Nuclear Energy, and Science. These offices work with industry, national laboratories,
universities, government agencies, and other partners to overcome barriers to the widespread
use of fuel cells and hydrogen fuel. Activities include R&D focused on advancing the performance and
reducing the cost of these technologies, a market transformation element dedicated to facilitating hydrogen
and fuel cell adoption, and activities focused on addressing non-technical challenges such as codes,
standards and public awareness. The program addresses infrastructure challenges through its work in
developing and improving hydrogen production and delivery methods and via its vehicle and station learning
demonstrations.
In the long term, fundamental science is a key component in attacking the technology challenges outlined
above. Therefore, DOE funds basic research of relevance to issues underpinning the production, storage
and use of hydrogen for advanced energy applications. The topical areas covered are novel materials
for hydrogen storage, membranes for separation, purification and ion transport, design of catalysts at the
nanoscale, solar hydrogen production, bio-inspired materials and processes, biological hydrogen production
and cross-cutting science.
Since 2002, DOE’s R&D activities have:
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Significantly reduced the cost of automotive fuel cells (from $275/kW in 2002 to $73/kW in 2008,
based on projections of high-volume manufacturing costs);
►► Doubled the durability of fuel cell systems in vehicles operating under real-world conditions (data in
2006 showed 950-hour durability—today, this number is more than 1,900 hours, equivalent to approximately
57,000 miles of driving);
►► Reduced the cost of producing hydrogen from both renewable resources and natural gas (DOE has
validated a projected cost for hydrogen produced at high volume from natural gas of $3.00/gallon
gasoline equivalent, which is cost competitive with gasoline when considering the efficiency gains of
using a fuel cell);
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Verified compatibility of hydrogen for fiber reinforced polymer pipe for hydrogen pipelines;
►► Doubled the capacity of tank trucks for bulk hydrogen delivery (developed manufacturing capability
to produce 38 ft by 42 inch diameter cylinders designed for ISO packaging specifications, and have
passed burst tests at 3600 psi);
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Successfully opened and operated 20 hydrogen stations (over 88,000 kg of hydrogen produced or
dispensed) as part of the Hydrogen Learning Demonstration; and,
►► Achieved refueling times of 5 minutes or less for 5 kg of hydrogen at 350 bar.
Challenges of Building a Hydrogen Infrastructure 33