US Department of Energy unveils $2m for fuel cell analysis > Fuel Cell Dispatch

US Department of Energy unveils $2m for fuel cell analysis

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has announced up to $2 million available this year to collect and analyse performance data for hydrogen fuelling stations and advanced refuelling components.

It hopes that by tracking data it can find ways to lower costs and improve the efficiency of fuel cell technology.

The money is part of President Barack Obama's strategy to reduce US dependence on foreign oil, according to the department's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy division.

A number of major car manufacturers plan to launch fuel cell electric vehicles on to the US market by 2015, while many states are actively investing in hydrogen fuelling infrastructure to support their release.

"The funding announced today will support projects to monitor the performance of multiple hydrogen fuelling stations and advanced components for up to five years to demonstrate technology innovations, gauge progress toward technical targets, and help identify and focus future research and development efforts," said the DoE in a release.

It wants applicants to the new funding to test new refuelling component technologies, which it hopes "could substantially reduce the cost of hydrogen".

These include advanced compressor designs, hydrogen delivery tanks with higher capacity and optimal tank pressure and advanced electrolysers that can produce hydrogen at higher pressures.

The DoE will apply to Congress for a further $2.2 million next year.