Hydrogen fuel projects win funding from Department of Energy

DOE backs three new hydrogen fuel projects

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced new funding being awarded to three companies that are focused on hydrogen fuel and fuel cell projects. The U.S. has been showing more interest in hydrogen fuel as fuel cell technology becomes more advanced. These energy systems are becoming more efficient and affordable, making them more attractive for mass adoption, especially as hydrogen production methods themselves become more efficient through the use of renewable energy. The funding provided by the federal agency will help hydrogen fuel gain more momentum in the U.S.

Funding provided to innovative projects that address major issues

The funding is being issued through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. This division of the Department of Energy helps fund renewable energy projects through the Small Business Research and Small Business Technology Transfer program. Three companies have been chosen to receive funding from the Department of Energy due to the innovative hydrogen fuel projects. These companies will receive the first round of funding within the coming weeks.

DOE backs hydrogen fuel storage projects

The first company to receive funding is Composite Technology Development. The company’s project focuses on the optimization of cost and performance of composite cylinders used for hydrogen fuel storage. Current storage technologies are notoriously expensive, limiting the use of hydrogen fuel. The company will seek to reduce the cost of hydrogen storage by 25%, making storage technologies more viable for construction and automotive purposes. Nextgen Aeronautics has also been chosen by the Department of Energy to address the issue of hydrogen fuel storage. The company will focus on the use of nanotechnology in order to create more durable storage solutions.

Treadstone project aims to make fuel cells more attractive

Treadstone Technologies is the third company to receive backing from the Department of Energy. This company will be focused on the development of structured metal bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, which have become very popular in the auto industry. These bipolar plates are meant to reduce the cost of fuel cells, as well as the electrical power that they produce. Treadstone expects that the plates could be used in vehicle production as early as 2017.