DOE to fund the launch of HydroGEN initiative

HydroGEN could benefit from $10 million support from DOE

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced a new initiative designed to launch the HydroGEN Advanced Water Splitting Materials Consortium (HydroGEN). The consortium is meant to utilize the expertise and capabilities of the country’s national laboratories, which haven focusing more heavily on hydrogen fuel cells in recent years. HydroGEN may be able to take advantage of some $10 million in financial support, based on whether or not the Department of Energy can gain approval for this level of funding.

New initiative will be part of the Energy Materials Network

The initiative is being launched as part of the Energy Materials Network, which was formed in February of this year. The Energy Materials Network is meant to provide entrepreneurs and manufacturers with the resources they need to embrace clean energy and technology. HydroGEN will be led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, along with several others, and those wishing to engage with the consortium will be able to work with a multitude of partners that have extensive experience with hydrogen fuel cells.

HydroGEN will focus on creating advanced water splitting materials

The HydroGEN consortium will be focused, quite specifically, on the advancement of water splitting materials. Initially, the consortium will working on photoelectrochemical, solar thermochemical, and electrolytic hydrogen production solutions. Focus may expand to other solutions in the future, depending on the progress the consortium can make. Finding effective ways to split water into its component parts, namely hydrogen, is becoming more important, as the demand for efficient hydrogen production solutions is growing very quickly.

Fuel cells are benefitting from more support

The Energy Materials Network is comprised of several other initiatives, many of which are focused on hydrogen fuel cells. Some of these initiatives are meant to develop new materials that can make fuel cells more efficient and improve their capabilities. These materials will likely be used for fuel cells that will be used to power a new generation of clean vehicles.