Hydrogen Research and Development
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its partners are overcoming the challenges of incorporating hydrogen into the U.S. energy system. The major categories of DOE-sponsored research and development (R&D) are listed below.
Hydrogen production research and development is important to make hydrogen cost-competitive with conventional fuels while minimizing the environmental impacts of production. Learn more about Hydrogen Production R&D Activities from the Fuel Cell Technologies Program.
Research and development helps improve technologies to distribute hydrogen cost-effectively from the point of production to the point of end-use, such as in fuel cell vehicles.
Learn more about Hydrogen Delivery R&D Activities from the Fuel Cell Technologies Program.
Research and development is important to improve technologies so fuel cell vehicles can store enough hydrogen onboard to enable a driving range of at least 300 miles without taking up excessive space or adding excessive weight.
Learn more about Hydrogen Storage R&D Activities from the Fuel Cell Technologies Program.
Fuel Cells and Vehicles
Hydrogen fuel cell research and development aims to reduce fuel cell system costs and size and to improve the performance and durability of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems for transportation and for small stationary and portable applications. Research for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles is important to develop technologies that advance fuel cell systems, subsystems, and components.
Hydrogen manufacturing research and development is important to help the United States move from today's components and systems to high-volume, commercially manufactured products.
Learn more about Manufacturing Research and Development from the Fuel Cell Technologies Program.
R&D at National Laboratories
Many DOE national laboratories perform hydrogen and fuel cell research and development:
- Argonne National Laboratory
- Brookhaven National Laboratory
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- National Energy Technology Laboratory
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Sandia National Laboratories
Also learn about hydrogen fueling infrastructure development.