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U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program: Progress, Challenges and Future Directions

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Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) hydrogen and fuel cell activities within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), focusing on key targets, progress towards meeting those targets, and materials-related issues that need to be addressed. The most recent, state-of-the-art data on metrics such as cost, durability, and performance of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies are presented. Key technical accomplishments to date include a 50% reduction in the modeled high volume cost of fuel cells since 2006, and an 80% cost reduction for electrolyzers since 2002. The statuses of various hydrogen production, delivery, and storage technologies are also presented along with a summary of materials-related challenges for hydrogen infrastructure technologies such as compression, dispensing, seals, pipeline materials/embrittlement, and storage materials. Specific examples and areas requiring more research are discussed. Finally, future plans including EERE’s lab consortium approach such as HyMARC (Hydrogen Storage Materials Advanced Research Consortium) and FC-PAD (Fuel Cell Performance and Durability) Consortia, are summarized.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Fuel Cell Technologies Office, 1000 Independence Ave., SW (EE-3F), Washington, DC, 20585, USA

    Eric L. Miller, Dimitrios Papageorgopoulos, Ned Stetson, Adria Wilson, Neha Rustagi & Sunita Satyapal

  2. U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Fuel Cell Technologies Office, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

    Katie Randolph & David Peterson

  3. Allegheny Science and Technology, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

    Kim Cierpik-Gold

  4. CSRA Inc., 3170 Fairview Park Dr., Falls Church, VA, 22042, USA

    Vanessa Trejos

  5. Redhorse Corporation, 1611 N. Kent St. Suite 1100, Arlington, VA, 22209, USA

    J. Carlos Gomez

Authors
  1. Eric L. Miller
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  2. Dimitrios Papageorgopoulos
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  4. Katie Randolph
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  5. David Peterson
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  6. Kim Cierpik-Gold
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  7. Adria Wilson
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  9. J. Carlos Gomez
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  10. Neha Rustagi
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  11. Sunita Satyapal
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Miller, E.L., Papageorgopoulos, D., Stetson, N. et al. U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program: Progress, Challenges and Future Directions. MRS Advances 1, 2839–2855 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2016.495

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