The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) efforts have advanced the state of the art of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies—making significant progress toward overcoming key challenges to widespread commercialization. See the Fuel Cell Technologies Office's accomplishments fact sheet.
Reducing Cost and Improving Durability and Performance of Fuel Cells
Reduced high volume automotive fuel cell costs by 50% since 2007.1
Cost reductions reflect numerous advances, including a 5x reduction in the platinum content of fuel cell catalysts and the development of durable membrane electrode assemblies.2 Modeled cost is $53/kW when produced at 500,000 units per year and $60/kW when produced at 100,000 units per year.3
Quadrupled fuel cell durability since 2006. Demonstrated more than 4,000-hour (120,000 miles) durability of fuel cell systems in vehicles operating under real-world conditions with only 10% degradation.4
Improving Technologies for Producing, Delivering, and Storing Hydrogen
Reduced the cost of dispensed hydrogen. Projected costs of hydrogen production, delivery, and dispensing for 700 bar fueling (assuming high volume production and widespread deployment) have been reduced to ~$5–$7/gge, making it nearly cost competitive with gasoline.5
Reduced the cost of producing hydrogen from renewables. The cost of electrolyzers has been reduced by 80% since 2002.6
Accelerated hydrogen production R&D. Achieved world record in direct photoelectrochemical hydrogen production7 and screened more than 1,000 materials for thermochemical hydrogen production.8
Launched H2FIRST and developed the world's first HyStEP device. Through the Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station Technology (H2FIRST) project, a prototype Hydrogen Station Equipment Performance (HyStEP) testing device was developed. The designs are now publically available for replication and the device is currently being used in California enabling new stations to meet fueling protocol requirements.
Reduced the cost of advanced compressed onboard hydrogen storage systems. Updated high volume cost projection for 700 bar compressed hydrogen storage systems to $15/kWh (a 12% reduction since 2013).9
Lowered cost of stationary hydrogen storage. Reduced the capital cost of 875 bar stationary hydrogen storage by more than 30% since 2011, from $1,450/kg to $1,000/kg through wire wrapped pressure vessels.10
Created hydrogen station analysis tools. Launched the Hydrogen Financial Analysis Scenario Tool (H2FAST),11 an online tool to provide in-depth financial analysis of hydrogen refueling stations, and released the Hydrogen Refueling Station Analysis Model (HRSAM)12 to determine the levelized cost of hydrogen dispensing.
Launched Consortia
Launched consortia to leverage lab resources for key challenges and to accelerate projects. Activities are aligned with DOE's Energy Materials Network (EMN) and will support the Energy Department's materials research and advanced manufacturing priorities.
Safety, Codes, and Standards
Trained more than 36,000 first-responders and code officials. Training completed through online and in-classroom courses.
Released first-of-its-kind hydrogen resource. Launched H2Tools,13 a free, online best practices and national hydrogen safety training resource for emergency responders.
Technology Acceleration
Advanced manufacturing quality control techniques. Developed quality control techniques to detect defects during manufacturing of fuel cell components, now being licensed for commercialization.
Achieved more than 6.3 million driving miles. Independently validated more than 200 fuel cell vehicles on the road, including from Daimler, GM, Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota with a solid track record of performance.14
Demonstrated durability of fuel cell vehicles to be 4,100 hours. The vehicles are on track to meet the 5,000 hour target (equivalent to 150,000 miles of driving).14
First commercial sale of hydrogen in the United States. Launched the first hydrogen station in the United States to receive the seal of approval for commercial sale of hydrogen fuel in California.
Deployed the world's first fuel cell airport GSE fleet. Deployed fleet of zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered airport ground support equipment (GSE) trucks with FedEx at the Memphis airport.
Proven field operation for network resilience. Validated the operation of fuel cells for backup power during Hurricane Sandy and in power disruptions across states.14
Encouraging a Growing Market
Increased commercial fuel cell deployments. Deployed 1,600 early market fuel cell forklifts and backup power units enabling more than 18,000 systems to be deployed or on order by industry without DOE funding, demonstrating true market transformation impact.15
Continued commitment to widespread commercialization. DOE funding has led to nearly 580 patents, more than 40 technologies, and almost 65 emerging technologies.16
Infrastructure Partnership
In 2013, DOE and other stakeholders launched H2USA, a public private collaboration focused on hydrogen infrastructure. More than 50 members include federal and state agencies, the fuel cell trade association, automakers, hydrogen providers, fuel cell developers, and national laboratories.
References and Notes
1. DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record #16020, https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/16020_fuel_cell_system_cost_2016.pdf
2. DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record #9018, https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/9018_platinum_group.pdf, and Fuel Cell Technologies Office Multi-Year Research, Development, and Demonstration Plan, https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2016/10/f33/fcto_myrdd_fuel_cells.pdf
3. DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record #16020, https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/16020_fuel_cell_system_cost_2016.pdf
4. DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record #15014, https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/15014_fuel_cell_stack_durability.pdf
5. DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record #16011, https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/16011_h2_delivery_cost_2015.pdf
6. Giner Inc., PD030, 2016 Annual Merit Review Proceedings, https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/review16/pd103_xu_2016_o.pdf
7. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, PD115, 2016 Annual Merit Review Proceedings, https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/review16/pd115_deutsch_2016_o.pdf
8. University of Colorado at Boulder, PD120, 2016 Annual Merit Review Proceedings, https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/review16/pd120_musgrave_2016_p.pdf
9. DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record #15013, https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/15013_onboard_storage_performance_c...
10. Wiretough Cylinders LLC, PD110, 2016 Annual Merit Review Proceedings, https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/review16/pd110_prakash_2016_o.pdf
11. H2FAST, http://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/h2fast/
12. HRSAM, https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/h2a_delivery.html
13. H2Tools, https://h2tools.org/
14. National Renewable Energy Laboratory Composite Data Products, http://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/proj_tech_validation.html
15. DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record #16012, https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/16012_industry_deployed_fc_powered_..., and DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record #16013, https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/16013_industry_deployed_fc_bup.pdf
16. 2015 Pathways to Commercial Success: Technologies and Products Supported by the Fuel Cell Technologies Office, https://energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/market-analysis-reports#mkt_pathways