Fuel Cell Technologies Office Newsletter: June 2016

The June 2016 issue of the Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) newsletter includes stories in these categories:

In the News

Annual Merit Review Evaluates Impact of Sustainable Transportation Projects

The Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting was held June 6–10, 2016, in Washington, D.C. Senator Byron L. Dorgan (ret.) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), David Friedman, delivered remarks on Monday, June 6, followed by presentations by the Fuel Cell Technologies Office and the Vehicle Technologies Office. Watch video recordings from the plenary session.

More than 1,880 people registered with 19 countries represented. More than 160 experts reviewed almost 125 presentations, with a total of almost 800 expert reviews being provided. Annual Merit Awards were also presented on Monday. The full proceedings of the meeting are now available.

See the EERE Facebook video or read Annual Merit Review Evaluates Impact of Sustainable Transportation Projects to learn more about this event. The 2017 AMR will take place June 5–9 in Washington, D.C.

Sustainable Transportation Summit

Come hear from distinguished transportation and mobility thought leaders, including Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, as they share their expertise and insights on Day 1 of the Energy Department’s inaugural 2016 Sustainable Transportation Summit. On July 11, through a series of engaging keynotes and interactive plenary sessions, speakers will focus on critical sustainable transportation topics, including deep decarbonization for U.S. transportation systems, consumer adoption of new vehicle technology, net-zero carbon fuels, and the future of mobility. In addition, Day 2 will feature a panel on H2USA and another on H2 @ Scale. Register and see the full agenda and list of speakers.

A Closer Look at Hydrogen Refueling

The Energy Department recently posted a blog discussing how hydrogen refueling dispensers and traditional gasoline dispensers at local gas stations are not very different from each other. Read A Closer Look at Hydrogen Refueling to learn about the safety features of hydrogen refueling dispensers and how they power fuel cell electric vehicles.

H2 Refuel H-Prize Finalist and Administrator at 2016 Annual Merit Review

SimpleFuel, the 2016 H2 Refuel H-Prize finalist, recently unveiled a model of its system and presented a poster with information about its entry and plans for the competition during the poster sessions at the Annual Merit Review on Wednesday, June 8. The team was selected by an independent judging panel as the finalist for the $1 million H2 Refuel H-Prize Competition and is currently building its small-scale, on-site hydrogen generation and fueling system and preparing it for testing, which will start this summer.

University of Waterloo Wins 2016 Hydrogen Student Design Contest

A team from the University of Waterloo, Canada, won the Hydrogen Education Foundation's 2016 Hydrogen Student Design Contest. The contest, supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy, is aligned with DOE's efforts to work with academic institutions and industry to ensure that students and the workforce are equipped with the skills and training they need to lead the clean energy economy.

10 Questions with Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Expert Glenn Rambach

The Energy Department recently posted an interview with Glenn Rambach, a world-renowned expert in the hydrogen and fuel cell industry and one of the longtime leaders in the field. Rambach is a former Energy Department employee with a 45-year career between Sandia National Laboratories and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Read 10 Questions with Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Expert Glenn Rambach, in which he discusses this emerging energy technology, his experience owning one of the first fuel cell electric vehicles sold in America, and the biggest challenges ahead for fuel cells.

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Funding Opportunities and Requests for Information

DOE Issues Request for Information on a Hydrogen Technology Showcase and Training (HyTeST) Station

FCTO has issued a request for information (RFI) to obtain feedback from stakeholders regarding the construction and benefits of a National Hydrogen Technology Showcase and Training (HyTeST) station. The facility would serve as a tool for research and development, testing, safety and demonstration training, and outreach for community and commercial early adopters, including station developers, owners, code officials, first responders, operators, investors, and insurers. For details, see the RFI announcement DE-FOA-0001555 or email questions about the RFI to [email protected] with "question" in the subject line. RFI responses must be received no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 22, 2016.

DOE Issues Request for Information on Hydrogen Storage for Onboard Vehicle Applications

FCTO has issued a request for information to obtain feedback and input from stakeholders on strategies and potential pathways for cost reduction and performance improvements of composite overwrapped pressure vessel systems for compressed hydrogen storage for onboard vehicle applications. For details, see the RFI announcement DE-FOA-0001596 or email questions about the RFI to [email protected] with "question" in the subject line. RFI responses must be received no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on June 30, 2016.

DOE Issues Request for Information on Medium- and Heavy-Duty Fuel Cell Electric Truck Targets

FCTO has issued a request for information to obtain feedback and opinions from truck operators, truck and storage tank manufacturers, fuel cell manufacturers, station equipment designers, and other related stakeholders on issues related to fuel cell electric truck targets. For details, see the RFI announcement DE-FOA-0001600 or email questions about the RFI to [email protected] with "question" in the subject line. RFI responses must be received no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 11, 2016.

Updates and future RFI and funding opportunity announcements will be posted on the FCTO's financial opportunities website.

Webinars and Workshops

Upcoming Webinar July 28: H2 @ Scale – A Potential Opportunity

FCTO will present a webinar entitled “H2 @ Scale – A Potential Opportunity” on Thursday, July 28 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. EDT. Hydrogen, as a flexible, clean energy-carrying intermediate, has the potential to be a centerpiece of a future energy system where aggressive market penetration of renewables (wind and solar) are coupled with renewable hydrogen production to meet society’s energy demands using clean, renewable resources and processes. A number of key recent changes are bringing hydrogen back into the spotlight: (1) renewable energy is getting cheaper, and penetration levels are increasing at an exponential pace; (2) the costs of greenhouse gas emissions (climate change) and criteria pollutants (health concerns) are being acknowledged and are reaching a point where society is demanding change (renewable portfolio and zero emission vehicle standards); and (3) commercial viability of fuel cell vehicle technology has been demonstrated (commercial vehicles being sold). This presentation will focus on the role of hydrogen at the grid scale and the efforts of a large, national lab team assembled to evaluate the potential of hydrogen to play a critical role in our energy future. Facts about hydrogen will be shared, as will the vision of how it will fit into our future energy system. Finally, the R&D needs to enable this future will be discussed. Register to attend this webinar.

Visit our website to see webinar archives or workshop presentations.

Studies, Reports, and Publications

U.S. DRIVE Releases Cradle-to-Grave Analysis of Light-Duty Vehicles

On June 1, the U.S. DRIVE Cradle-to-Grave Working Group published the "Cradle-to-Grave Lifecycle Analysis of U.S. Light-Duty Vehicle-Fuel Pathways: A Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Economic Assessment of Current (2015) and Future (2025–2030) Technologies" Argonne National Lab Report. The study provides a comprehensive cradle-to-grave analysis of the cost, greenhouse gas emissions, levelized cost of driving, cost of avoided greenhouse gas emissions, and technology readiness level of key fuel and vehicle technology pathways. Co-authors are from Argonne National Laboratory; the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies, Fuel Cell Technologies, and Bioenergy Technologies Offices; the National Renewable Energy Laboratory; the Electric Power Research Institute; Fiat Chrysler Automobiles; General Motors; Chevron; and Ford.

Life-Cycle Costs of Mid-Size Light-Duty Vehicles

FCTO has released the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record # 16009: Life-Cycle Costs of Mid-Size Light-Duty Vehicles. This record documents the assumptions and results of analyses conducted to estimate the life-cycle costs resulting from several fuel/vehicle pathways, for a generic future mid-size car.

Industry Deployed Fuel Cell-Powered Lift Trucks

FCTO has issued an updated analysis record. Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record # 16012: Industry Deployed Fuel Cell-Powered Lift Trucks describes the number of fuel cell deployments (shipped and on-order) for applications in material handling equipment from 2009 through the program record date.

Industry Deployed Fuel Cell Backup Power (BuP)

FCTO has issued an updated analysis record. Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record # 16013: Industry Deployed Fuel Cell Backup Power (BuP) describes the number of fuel cell deployments (current and planned) for applications in backup power (BuP) from 2009 through the program record date.

Hydrogen Production Cost from Solid Oxide Electrolysis

FCTO has released the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record # 16014: Hydrogen Production Cost from Solid Oxide Electrolysis. This record provides information about the projected cost to produce hydrogen from high-temperature solid oxide electrolysis cells in the near- to longer-term.

Visit our website to access technical information about hydrogen and fuel cells. This information is provided in documents such as technical and project reports, conference proceedings and journal articles, technical presentations, and links to other websites.

National Laboratory and Principal Investigator Achievements

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Presents Annual Merit Review Awards

The Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program presented its annual awards at the 2016 DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting, known as the AMR, on June 6. Each year, the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program presents awards for contributions to the overall efforts of the Program and to recognize achievements in specific areas. Award winners include:

Joint Fuel Cell Technologies and Vehicle Technologies Office Award

  • U.S. DRIVE's Cradle-2-Grave Working Group
    • Marcus Alexander, Electric Power Research Institute
    • Steve Barnhart, FCA US LLC
    • Mary Biddy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
    • Eric Bunnelle, ExxonMobil Refining & Supply Company
    • Amgad Elgowainy, Argonne National Laboratory
    • Dave Gohlke, AAAS Fellow supporting the U.S. Department of Energy
    • Jeongwoo Han, Argonne National Laboratory
    • Amit Kapur, Phillips66 Company
    • Todd Ramsden, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
    • Herie Soto, Shell Oil Products US
    • Ian Sutherland, General Motors
    • Laura Verduzco, Chevron Corporation
    • Tim Wallington, Ford Motor Company

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Awards

  • Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station Technology (H2FIRST) Team
    • Joseph Pratt, Sandia National Laboratories
    • Terry Johnson, Sandia National Laboratories
    • Christopher Ainscough, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
    • Daniel Terlip, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  • Jennifer Gangi and Sandra Curtin, Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association
  • Bryan Pivovar, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the H2 @ Scale team

Program Area Awards

  • Hydrogen Storage: Jeffrey R. Long, University of California—Berkeley, and Craig M. Brown, National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • Fuel Cells: Rod Borup, Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Fuel Cells: Cy Fujimoto, Sandia National Laboratories, and Yu Seung Kim, Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Manufacturing: Michael Ulsh, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  • Market Transformation/Technology Validation: Melanie Caton, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  • Market Transformation: Joseph Pratt, Sandia National Laboratories
  • Safety, Codes, and Standards: Katrina Groth, Sandia National Laboratories

Learn more about the 2016 award recipients.