The July 2018 issue of the Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) newsletter includes stories in these categories:
- In the News
- Funding Opportunities and Requests for Information
- Webinars and Workshops
- National Laboratory and Principal Investigator Achievements.
In the News
K–12 Teachers Get Up Close to Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) joined forces with the Smithsonian Science Education Center to increase understanding of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies among a group of 30 K–12 science teachers attending the Center's week-long, science-focused course in Washington, D.C. FCTO's participation included an opportunity for teachers to ride in one the world's first commercial fuel cell cars as well as a presentation highlighting how hydrogen and fuel cell technologies work, how they are being used today, and how they fit into the national energy economy. Most of the teachers were not aware there are now more than 5,000 hydrogen fuel cell cars on U.S. roads, and they were excited to bring new hydrogen- and fuel cell-related topics to their classrooms for the upcoming school year. By teaching the teacher, events like this one make a powerful impact on public understanding of America's energy opportunities and help foster STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning in the classroom. To learn more about how fuel cells work and get involved, download the Increase your H2IQ training resource to give a hydrogen and fuel cells presentation in your classroom or community and visit the FCTO website.
Fact of the Month July 2018: 650 MW of Fuel Cell Power Shipped Worldwide
In 2017, there were more than 650 MW of fuel cell power shipped worldwide. The largest increase in MWs occurred in the transportation sector, and that growth can be attributed to the introduction and expansion of fuel cell light-duty vehicles from Japan and Korea to new regions around the world. Other transportation applications such as buses and material handling also contributed to the increase in MW shipped. View the July Fact of the Month.
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Funding Opportunities and Requests for Information
Request for Information on Broadening the Scope of Energy R&D and Associated Facility Needs at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's National Wind Technology Center
The National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) is a 305-acre site in Colorado that comprises field test sites, test laboratories, industrial high-bay work areas, machine shops, electronics and instrumentation laboratories, and office areas. While NWTC's initial focus was on wind energy, it has been used to demonstrate and test other energy technologies, and is looking to further expand these large-scale field testing capabilities. Given recent interest in utilization of the site for testing other technologies, DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is requesting public input on specific facility and infrastructure investments that would enable expanded energy research and development at the site. Specific areas of interest include hydrogen fuel cells, advanced manufacturing, solar, grid integration and storage, marine hydrokinetic, hydropower, geothermal, and hybrid energy technologies. Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to [email protected] no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on August 27, 2018.
Webinars and Workshops
Webinar August 22: Development of Real-Time Characterization Tools and Associated Efforts to Assist Membrane Electrode Assembly Manufacturing Scale-Up
On August 22, 2018, at 12 p.m. ET, FCTO will hold a public webinar titled "Development of Real-Time Characterization Tools and Associated Efforts to Assist Membrane Electrode Assembly Manufacturing Scale-Up." In this webinar, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will present an overview of early-stage R&D related to manufacturing of fuel cell membrane electrode assembly (MEA) materials. Topics will include (1) an overview of the manufacturing context and challenges for MEA materials, (2) a detailed presentation of work to develop real-time in-line characterization techniques, (3) an overview of specialized in situ diagnostics developed to understand how defects in MEA materials affect cell performance and lifetime, and (4) an overview of efforts to understand the foundational relationships between electrode materials (inks and coated layers), processing methods, and performance. The webinar will be recorded and made available online, and includes a 15 minute Q&A portion. Register for the webinar.
Visit our website to see webinar archives or workshop presentations.
National Laboratory and Principal Investigator Achievements
LBNL Researcher Elected 2018 ECS Fellow
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) researcher Adam Z. Weber has been named one of the 2018 Class of Fellows by the Electrochemical Society (ECS). Established in 1989 for advanced individual technological contributions in the fields of electrochemistry and solid state science and technology, 2018 ECS Fellows are being recognized at the plenary session of the ECS meeting on October 1 for scientific achievements, for leadership, and for active participation in the affairs of ECS.